Dental and Primary Health Care services will temporarily be relocated in June as work will be carried out at the Tupapa Primary Care and Outpatient building to remove building materials containing asbestos.

Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) and Te Marae Ora (TMO) Ministry of Health will jointly oversee the removal of hazardous roofing and other building material containing asbestos at the Tupapa Clinic.

CIIC says that extensive planning spanning 12 months has been dedicated to safely removing asbestos roofing and meticulously arranging the relocation of primary health care and dental services during the work.

“This project not only focuses on asbestos removal but also includes building enhancements to support and improve public health and dental services for the community’s benefit.”

Qualified CIIC staff, equipped with necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), will carry out the work, ensuring compliance with safety standards and protocols, as demonstrated in the Customs House building project, says a spokesperson of CIIC.

CIIC chief executive Allan Jensen says the project is estimated to take up to eight weeks commencing Monday, June 3, 2024 when roof replacement works begins.

Jensen says like other projects, this is also subject to weather conditions and material supplies.

“Efforts are focused on minimal disruption to health care services while addressing the long-standing issue of the asbestos roof.”

During this period, dental services will be available at puna and schools around Rarotonga while primary health care services will be temporarily relocated to the Rarotonga hospital.

Te Marae Ora is expected to inform the public in due course of changes to health and dental service delivery.

Nearing completion, the Customs building asbestos removal project, budgeted at $400,000, began in February with a crew of 10 workers removing asbestos from the 600-square-metre roof.