The federal coordinator of Disaster Recovery of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), José Baquero announced this Sunday the allocation of $151.6 million to the Hospital del Maestro for permanent work on its structure due to damages after the impact of the hurricane Maria in 2017.
“Hospital institutions are part of the essential services of the country, mainly during the emergency season. This award to Hospital El Maestro will support a strengthened and suitable infrastructure that will support the work of health professionals and medical services that have been offered here for more than 60 years.” Baquero said in written statements.
Following the federal allocation, the hospital will be able to address repairs that include installing a whole-building central air system. It will also be possible to replace parts of the infrastructure and electrical equipment, fungus problems will be remedied, the stucco will be repaired and the structure will be painted.
The award includes about $6.2 million to prevent similar damage from future weather events. Among the measures, the slope of the roof will be corrected to improve drainage; and will replace windows and doors with high-impact-resistant units.
For her part, the executive director of the hospital, Yarimir Rodríguez Díaz, explained that the institution is located in a highly privileged area, since it is in the center of Hato Rey, next to the Las Américas expressway and shopping centers. The residents of some six neighboring aegis —such as the Aegis of the Master, La Merced, Perpetuo Socorro and the Aegis of Lawyers— also receive the services of the medical institution.
El Maestro Hospital cares for patients who require hospitalization and outpatient care; It has an adult and pediatric emergency room, and an operating room for general and orthopedic surgery. Other of its services include oncology, urology, gastroenterology, physical and respiratory therapy, laboratory, imaging center and biopsy center.
