Scandal-hit nursing home refurb nearing completion
THE renovation of the Sınırüstü People’s Foundation Nursing Home, which hit the headlines for its inhumane living conditions two years ago, is reaching its completion.
In January 2022, the People's Foundation Nursing Home in Sınırüstü village, where elderly residents endured squalor and harsh conditions and staff shortages, facing neglect and abuse amid crumbling infrastructure and mould-infested walls, was closed down.
The Cyprus Foundations Administration handed over the renovation of the Sınırüstü People’s Foundation Nursing Home to the Cyprus Turkish Construction Contractors Association (KTİMB), the owners of the China Bazaar store, and Kamtek Ltd.
In February 2022, these organisations volunteered for the renovation.
Mazhar Iqbal Choudhry, the director of China Bazaar, said the aim is to complete the renovation, conducted in collaboration with Kamtek director Ali Kamacıoğlu, and hand it over by Monday.
Referring to the length of time it has taken to refurbish the nursing home, Choudhry explained that the costs were initially estimated at 300,000TL but spiralled to over 10 million TL after the full extent of the work needed became apparent.
Cafer Gürcafer, the head of the KTİMB, emphasised that the new board of directors now bears full responsibility.
“We are part of the administration; if any part of the building requires repair, we must address it to prevent further erosion, decay, or collapse. This dire state could have been avoided with regular maintenance,” he said.
Prof Hatice Jenkins, chair of the Association of Elderly Rights and Mental Health, criticised the delayed completion of the building in a social media post.
She expressed disappointment that the promised two-month timeline has stretched into a two-year ordeal.