The architect from Posadas , Misiones province, Graciela Kapko is responsible for directing the construction of the first Antarctic Joint Hospital at the Petrel Base , a project that promises to transform health care on the white continent .
With almost 19 years of experience in the maintenance area of the Buenos Aires Naval Hospital , Graciela joined the Joint Antarctic Command in 2023. Her goal is to provide Petrel with health and logistics capabilities that open the doors to new opportunities for the Argentine Antarctic Program .
From Marambio Base , in an interview with FM 89.3 Santa María de las Misiones , the architect shared details about her work. “ We arrived with good weather, but now we are with 3 degrees below zero and fog ,” she described.
The professional leads a team of seven technicians , and her first project has been the recovery of a helicopter hangar in Marambio , a vital step to facilitate the transport of personnel and supplies between the different bases.
The Petrel Base , currently inactive in scientific and logistical terms, is destined to become the heart of Argentine operations in Antarctica . With a hospital modified to withstand extreme temperatures , winds of up to 300 km/h , and snow accumulations of up to 60 centimeters , the project seeks to ensure quality care for all Argentine personnel in the region, but also to offer health services and logistics to bases in other countries .
Rigorous planning is essential in Antarctica , where time and resources are limited. “ If we forget something, it’s a year of waiting to get it ,” Kapko warned. The architect stressed the importance of the assembly process in the Tandanor workshops , where the structures are duly adjusted before being shipped .
Argentina maintains 13 bases in Antarctica , but lacks a medium-complexity hospital . The current bases only have infirmaries and limited medical services . This poses a considerable risk in emergencies , since patients must be evacuated to the mainland , a process that can be risky in adverse weather conditions .
The new hospital in Petrel will change this reality: “ It will allow us to care for patients without having to transfer them to the mainland ,” explained Graciela .
The Antártico Joint Hospital , whose design was presented by the Argentine professional at the 34th Latin American Congress of Hospital Architecture and Engineering , will offer a wide range of services. From medical and dental offices to an operating room and an intensive care unit, the hospital will guarantee quality care in the region.
In addition, it will have diagnostic imaging services, a laboratory , and a photovoltaic solar field, which will allow a reduction in the use of fossil fuels .
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