The repair of damages in wildlife protected areas will be of over 4.5 million USD

The Ministry of Energy and Environment, estimates that repairing the damages caused by hurricane Otto will have a cost of close to ¢2,437 million colones (almost 4.5 million USD). The intervention will focus in the Conservation Area of Tortuguero, North Arenal Huetar, Arenal Tempisque, Guanacaste and Osa.

The investment plan sent to the National Emergency Committee (Spanish acronym; CNE), proposes the repairing and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure, trails, bridges and roads within the Protected Wildlands.

According to the Executive-Secretary of the National System of Conservation Area (Spanish acronym; SINAC), these works will provide better conditions for the visit of national and international tourists, for the workers of the area and they will allow the optimization of the environmental monitoring of the regions affected by hurricane Otto.

The report presented to the National Emergency Committee, states that the cost of the reconstruction of roads to the Santa Rosa National Park and the Guanacaste National Park alone will be of close to ¢1,131 million colones (over $2 million USD); the rest of the funds will go to the reconstruction of a bridge, the bathrooms, trails and sewer systems in the Protected Wildlands, the environmental monitoring, technical scientific studies and reforestation.

Upala Hospital receives investment by Social Security Board

On the other hand, the Costa Rican public health and social security board (Spanish Acronym; CCSS) also confirmed this week an investment of almost ¢2,000 million colones (close to $4 million USD), in the Upala hospital to satisfy the needs of this population that was also severely affected by Otto.
The investment included new electric beds, a laparoscopy tower, a new ultrasound for the emergency service, anesthesia equipment, a special bed for the delivery room, among others. A part of the funds were also used in the installation of new fire protection system, a water tank with more capacity and a new telephone system.

The Upala hospital provides service to 47 thousand people form the Upala county and around 19 thousand from the Guatuso county.