By the time the open weekend had come to an end late last night, more than 80,000 had passed through the doors of the newly inaugurated Mater Dei Hospital.
35,000 people turned up on Saturday. Another 45,000 visiting the hospital on Sunday with people waiting outside the hospital gates before the doors opened in the morning. Later in the evening, a 16-kilometre marathon run traced the history of local hospitals, with athletes leaving from Rabat's Santo Spirito - the country's first hospital - and making their way to the Sacra Infermeria in Valletta; the police headquarters, which also used to be a hospital; St Luke's Hospital; before ending their run at Mater Dei.
Following the official opening and inauguration of the Mater Dei hospital by Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi on Friday evening, a health festival kicked off on Saturday and was held throughout the whole weekend together with a number of other activities.
People of all ages have visited the Mater Dei. A number of free health tests - from blood pressure to blood glucose, ECG, dental check-ups and Body Mass Index - were carried out over the weekend. The Malta Medical Students Association also carried out similar tests and distributing information on healthcare needs and conditions.
Also, football personalities took part in a life-size table soccer game. Five-a-side football matches were also held while other sports activities took place such as basketball, bocci games and trampolines. Instructors and physical trainers helped out at an open air gym.
The Health Festival was characterized by healthy food with a long salad bar consisting of locally produced fruit and vegetables. A fish restaurant was also set up and a number of fruit and juice bars were also set up along the festival area.
Although medical services have not yet moved to Mater Dei, the new hospital saw its first unofficial "patients" over the weekend, as thousands took the opportunity to take free health tests. There was also the facility to donate blood in an especially set up unit within the hospital's Outpatients Department.
The migration process is expected to kick off in July with the transfer of the administration, management and support services, followed by the Outpatients Department. Wards are expected to migrate to the new hospital around the end of August and the beginning of September. The hospital is expected to be fully functional by the end of the year.
