A construction firm behind the Weija Paediatric Hospital project has demanded an immediate retraction and apology from the Ministry of Health over claims surrounding delays in operationalising the facility.
In a letter dated May 8, 2026, lawyers for Awerco Construction Limited accused the Ministry of making misleading and damaging claims in a recent press release about the hospital project.
The Ministry had earlier suggested that concerns raised by the World Bank over alleged procurement irregularities, including inflated medical equipment prices, contributed to delays affecting the hospital’s opening.
However, Awerco Construction denied the allegations, describing them as unfounded and unsupported by evidence.
According to the company, no such concerns were ever formally communicated to it by the Ministry or the World Bank. It argued that had the issues been raised directly, it would have provided clarification on the pricing and procurement processes.
The company also disputed claims that it blocked efforts to commission the hospital.
The Ministry had stated that although preparations were underway to operationalise the facility, the contractor halted the process by insisting all outstanding matters be resolved first.
But Awerco says this misrepresents the exchanges between both parties.
According to the company, it only raised concerns about unresolved contractual procedures and warned about the need for protective systems such as UPS units and Automatic Voltage Regulators to safeguard sensitive medical equipment.
It said failure to install such systems could expose the equipment to damage and affect the proper functioning of the hospital.
The contractor further claimed that the Ministry has failed to honour outstanding payment obligations for more than a year, despite repeated requests and correspondence.
It also argued that end-user training required under the contract cannot proceed until those financial issues are resolved, warning that operating specialised medical equipment without proper training could pose risks.
Awerco questioned why the Ministry would attempt to commission the facility if it genuinely believed some equipment prices had been inflated as alleged.
The company accused the Ministry of trying to shift public attention away from unresolved financial and operational matters surrounding the project.
Lawyers for the firm say the publication has the potential to damage the company’s reputation and business interests.
Awerco Construction is demanding that portions of the Ministry’s press release be withdrawn within 24 hours, warning that legal action could follow if the request is ignored.
