The Weija Children’s Hospital is expected to open to the public soon after the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) successfully facilitated an agreement between the Ministry of Health and Awerco Construction Limited for the immediate handover of the facility.

In a statement , EOCO said the agreement followed a series of engagements with the parties aimed at ensuring the completed hospital begins providing healthcare services to the public without further delay.

According to EOCO, the parties agreed to proceed with the handover despite outstanding issues surrounding the project, including claims by the contractor over unpaid sums and concerns raised by the project’s financier regarding procurement processes and related matters.

The Office said the decision was taken in the national interest to ensure that children and families gain access to the specialised healthcare services the hospital was built to provide.

EOCO noted that the agreement would pave the way for the commissioning and operationalisation of the hospital while investigations into alleged procurement breaches, financial impropriety and other related matters connected to the project continue.

The anti-graft agency stressed that the handover arrangement does not affect or prejudice its ongoing investigations.