MARGAO
What can we use the Hospicio building for once the new district hospital under construction is commissioned a year from now? This question was posed by none other than Health Minister Vishwajit Rane as he took a round of Hospicio, which is commemorating 150 years in December this year, setting in motion a debate of sorts on how best to put the heritage structure to use after the hospital shifting a year from now.
Director of Health Services Dr Sanjeev Dalvi had no reply to the Health Minister’s question, while Hospicio’s Medical Superintendent, Dr Ira Almeida suggested setting up a rehabilitation centre in the heritage building.
One thing, however, was clear that the Health Minister isn’t keen to hand over the heritage building to any agency or body. “We do not want to give the building to anybody. This is an old heritage building. We should see how best to use the building, whether it can be utilised for training or for health related activities. The property should be put to use. We have to take a call what can we use it for,”
Rane said. As no suggestion came forth from the Health Director, the Health Minister suggested a brainstorming session how best to put the hospital building to use.
Salcete’s lone minister, Vijai Sardesai, who holds the Town and Country Planning Ministry, rooted for a museum in the heritage building. “My personal view is that the Hospicio heritage building should be converted into a museum on the lines of the Dutch hospital at Colombo, Sri Lanka. The heritage building can even promote Goa items as brand and can be an unique experience even for tourists and visitors to Goa,” Sardesai told The Goan.
The TCP Minister, however, said that since Hospicio falls in the conversation zone, with the Holy Spirit Church Square, the Monte Hill steps and other heritage structures dotting around the entire place, there ought to be no haste in taking a call on the future of the building. “I have plans to beautify the entire heritage area coming under the conversation zone, right from the Holy Spirit Church Square to Monte Hill Chapel. And, I am open to the formation of a panel of experts, comprising of architects, engineers, historians how best we can go about the work,” he added.
Historian Prajal Sakhardande said that Hospicio’s heritage building should be converted into a vibrant cultural centre for Margao. “I am of the firm view that Hospicio’s heritage centre will qualify as a vibrant cultural centre. The building can play host to art exhibitions, talks and discussions on heritage and conservation, discussions on films, art and theatre. In Panaji, plans are afoot to shift the museum to the Adil Shah Palace. I think the government should think of setting up a museum at Hospicio’s heritage structure on those lines,” Prajal asserted.
Hospicio Medical Superintendent, Dr Ira Almeida said a rehab centre at the heritage building would help patients affected by strokes and disabilities to undergo physiotherapy. “The building can also play host to a museum.”
Founded on December 13, 1867 by late Fr Antonio Joao De Miranda, Dr Ira says late Fr Miranda had started a small hospital in the present structure housing the old age home, before starting full-fledged operations in the existing heritage structure. “The Annexe multi-storey building was built in the 80’s to meet the growing medical requirements,” she added.
My personal view is that the Hospicio heritage building should be converted into a museum on the lines of the Dutch hospital at Colombo, Sri Lanka
”Vijai Sardesai, TCP minister
A rehab centre at the heritage building would help patients affected by strokes and disabilities to undergo physiotherapy
”Dr Ira Almeida, Hospicio Medical Superintendent
I am of the firm view that heritage building will qualify as a vibrant cultural centre. It can play host to art exhibitions, discussions on heritage and conservation, etc
”Prajal Sakhardande, historian
