Orhei Rayon Hospital, the best energy efficiency project in the public sector

Due to projects implemented in the recent years, the Orhei Rayon Hospital managed to become a model of energy efficiency. Apart from the fact that last year the institution saved over 400 thousand lei, the hospital has become more attractive to patients from other rayons as well. 

“This is my first child. I have waited for him for a very long time” says Ana, a young mother who gave birth to a healthy boy just an hour ago. In a few seconds the baby’s father comes in. “I have a boy! You see how handsome he is!”, the young man exclaims happily. The parents chose the maternity hospital in Orhei as it now has all conditions required for an easy delivery of a child. The director of the institution Elena Palanciuc makes an incursion to three years ago, when a temperature comfortable for patients could not be reached. „The mothers-to-be were staying in miserable conditions. It was very cold”, E. Palanciuc recalls. After the German Development Cooperation through GIZ had provided about 400 thousand Euro to the hospital for implementation of a development project aimed to enhance the energy efficiency of the health facility, these problems became part of the past.  

“Under the pilot project in Orhei, since 2010 we have managed to make direct physical investment in the amount of 394 000 Euro, that were spent for six microprojects: changing windows in the perinatal block, installing energy efficient windows and thermally insulating the exterior walls of the therapy building, renovating the water supply and sewerage system in the pediatric block, installing three substations in three blocks of the hospital, installing a smart energy monitoring system. Other 13 thousand Euro will be spent for renovation of the exterior entries of the therapy unit”, argues Constantin Enciu, GIZ consultant. 

“Now we know how important energy efficiency is”

Although the hospital is a rayon level one, the impact of the project is regional. The health facility is considered an energy efficiency model and manages to draw patients from other three neighboring rayons: Şoldăneşti, Rezina and Teleneşti. „Over 30% of women who gave birth to their children in Orhei maternity hospital came from other rayons”, the director says. The patients and the 700 employees of the hospital, who now work in a friendly environment, are happy and the money saved for energy will be targeted to buying medical equipment and improving patients’ nutrition.

“What has changed? The energy efficiency was not discussed earlier, as no one understood what it was. Now it seems that we managed to change the mentality. Energy efficiency is put on the first place”, the vice president of Orhei rayon, Sergiu Muravschi, said. According to him, the quality of works conducted under the project is the result of an in-depth control. “There is a triple control performed by specialists from the Rayon Council, representatives of the Center Regional Development Agency and the most rigorous one – by specialists from Germany. We are glad that after visiting the hospital, the German minister for regional development was satisfied with what he had seen and he said they would continue the funding”, S.Muravschi also said. 

When a Project Attracts Other Projects

Thus, Orhei rayon hospital will benefit of about 600 thousand EUR for enhancing energy efficiency under another project financed by GIZ. It should be noted that in 2012 Orhei hospital was awarded at “Gala Moldova Eco Energetica” Award Ceremony under “The Best Energy Efficiency in the Public Sector Project” category and it will keep its position due to new funding. 

According to Constantin Enciu, a building which is perfect in terms of energy efficiency is the one that managed to achieve the minimum level of energy consumption, the so called “passive building”. “Orhei rayon hospital takes all necessary steps to become such a building, an institution that ensures its energy independence”, the specialist concluded. 

The first kisses a mother gives to her baby in less than an hour after the baby has come to this world. The mother is glad she has chosen the maternity hospital in Orhei: “Is is warm, it is good here, and the staff is professional”.

A project attracts other projects. The administration of Orhei Rayon Hospital obtained funding for installing solar panels on the roof of the perinatal block.

 

Elena Palanciuc, director of Orhei District Hospital, describes what the building looked like in the past.

Author: Svetlana Panţa