The Government of Manitoba has approved funding for five health facility maintenance projects in the Pembina Valley. Nearly $30 million has been set aside for 120 projects province-wide to ensure health-care facilities are properly maintained.

Approved for more than $150,000 is the Boundary Trails Health Centre for maintenance and repairs to the crawlspace and drain lines.

"Now that it's getting to the age where it's been open for seventeen years, we're noticing some of the building components are starting to wear out," said Ken Klassen, Vice President of Finance and Capital at Southern Health-Sante Sud. He added it's best to stay on top of these wears-and-tears before they cause service disruptions at the hospital.

Meantime, a majority of the projects approved in the region are estimated to cost less than $150,000.

Thanks to this provincial funding the patient wandering security system will be replaced at Boyne Lodge in Carman, Rock Lake Hospital in Crystal City will see its nurse call system replaced and the boiler at Red River Valley Lodge in Morris will be switched out.

Boundary Trails Health Centre will also see money from this funding category for upgrades to the card access system, nurse on call and security systems. The facility's chiller compressor will also be replaced.

Klassen explained that receiving this funding is huge for health authority because there's isn't an allocation in its budget for these kinds of projects.

"We're very thankful for that because without it it would be almost impossible for us to get these done," he said.

He said the goal is to start work on these projects as soon as possible with the hope of completing them within the year.