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Tribune News Network
Doha
As part of the government’s plans for developing and implementing better health services in Qatar, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has completed the major works of the South Al Wakra Health Center, which will serve about 360 visitors every day.
Eng Hind Al Mahmied, head of Health Projects Section at the Building Projects Department, Ashghal, said the project is being prepared for handover to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). She added that three more health centres will be delivered to the MoPH in 2021, namely, Al Khor Health Center, Ain Khalid Health Center and Al Sadd Health Centre, besides the National Health Laboratory.
The construction works at South Al Wakra Health Centre progressed in accordance with the set plan of the project despite the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, pointing out that the project took about 682,000 man-hours without lost-time injury to reach completion.
Eng Al Mahmied added that the centre was completed in accordance with the local construction specifications and international standards to achieve the required 3-star sustainability standards (GSAS).
The health centre is spread over an area of about 3,000 square metres and includes a single-storey main building housing the main clinical building covering nine clinics, annex buildings such as a mosque, support services building, guards’ building, monitoring chamber, electrical and mechanical maintenance annex, a garage for ambulances and parking slots for 125 cars.
The project design considered requirements of people with special needs including signage messaging, illustrations and Braille script, comfortable toilets, wide walkways for easy movement, auto-sensor doors and reception desks with convenient height, besides car parking spaces close to the main entrances and ramps in place of steps.
The buildings design also reflects the heritage and culture of Qatar without compromising international standards of safety for fire protection, besides 3-star rated GSAS environment standard. Another important design feature of the centre is inclusion of next generation technologies in the field of medical equipment.
All the criteria were set by Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) since operational and architectural considerations were taken to accomplish a 3-star environmental level in terms of energy saving and environment preservation, including:
? Using solar energy for the purpose of in-house water heating
? Using natural sunlight through panoramic roof windows, allowing sun light in to save electricity used in lights and to disinfect the place
? Rational consumption of water inside and outside the building
? Growing green areas and landscapes around the facility
? Preserving the environment around during the implementation of the project
Ashghal has been granted two Sustainability Awards (2016) in health and education facilities by the Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD). Over the past years, GORD examined the designs of building projects – educational and health buildings -- and conducted site visits to Ashghal’s projects to verify their compliance with GSAS standards.
Ashghal has completed 24 health facilities during 2004 to 2018 in line with Qatar Vision 2030, which aims to provide integrated infrastructure and public utilities that serve all sectors in the country.
As part of Ashghal’s vision to support growth of Qatar’s GDP, a huge portion of materials used in Ashghal projects are of local-made. The percentage of local materials used in South Al Wakra Health Center project reached 45 percent of the total materials, including iron, steel, MEP items and glass, maong other materials.
Doha
As part of the government’s plans for developing and implementing better health services in Qatar, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has completed the major works of the South Al Wakra Health Center, which will serve about 360 visitors every day.
Eng Hind Al Mahmied, head of Health Projects Section at the Building Projects Department, Ashghal, said the project is being prepared for handover to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). She added that three more health centres will be delivered to the MoPH in 2021, namely, Al Khor Health Center, Ain Khalid Health Center and Al Sadd Health Centre, besides the National Health Laboratory.
The construction works at South Al Wakra Health Centre progressed in accordance with the set plan of the project despite the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, pointing out that the project took about 682,000 man-hours without lost-time injury to reach completion.
Eng Al Mahmied added that the centre was completed in accordance with the local construction specifications and international standards to achieve the required 3-star sustainability standards (GSAS).
The health centre is spread over an area of about 3,000 square metres and includes a single-storey main building housing the main clinical building covering nine clinics, annex buildings such as a mosque, support services building, guards’ building, monitoring chamber, electrical and mechanical maintenance annex, a garage for ambulances and parking slots for 125 cars.
The project design considered requirements of people with special needs including signage messaging, illustrations and Braille script, comfortable toilets, wide walkways for easy movement, auto-sensor doors and reception desks with convenient height, besides car parking spaces close to the main entrances and ramps in place of steps.
The buildings design also reflects the heritage and culture of Qatar without compromising international standards of safety for fire protection, besides 3-star rated GSAS environment standard. Another important design feature of the centre is inclusion of next generation technologies in the field of medical equipment.
All the criteria were set by Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) since operational and architectural considerations were taken to accomplish a 3-star environmental level in terms of energy saving and environment preservation, including:
? Using solar energy for the purpose of in-house water heating
? Using natural sunlight through panoramic roof windows, allowing sun light in to save electricity used in lights and to disinfect the place
? Rational consumption of water inside and outside the building
? Growing green areas and landscapes around the facility
? Preserving the environment around during the implementation of the project
Ashghal has been granted two Sustainability Awards (2016) in health and education facilities by the Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD). Over the past years, GORD examined the designs of building projects – educational and health buildings -- and conducted site visits to Ashghal’s projects to verify their compliance with GSAS standards.
Ashghal has completed 24 health facilities during 2004 to 2018 in line with Qatar Vision 2030, which aims to provide integrated infrastructure and public utilities that serve all sectors in the country.
As part of Ashghal’s vision to support growth of Qatar’s GDP, a huge portion of materials used in Ashghal projects are of local-made. The percentage of local materials used in South Al Wakra Health Center project reached 45 percent of the total materials, including iron, steel, MEP items and glass, maong other materials.
