PM: Fijians deserve best health care
Government, Mr Bainimarama added had a vision to building a healthier Fiji.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said people deserve a health care system that has the capacity and expertise to provide proper advice and treatment. Mr Bainimarama made the comment while launching the tenth gastroenterology training programme at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva yesterday. The programme is facilitated by experts from the Australian and New Zealand Gastroenterology International Training Association in collaboration with the Fiji National University College of Medicine and the Ministry of Health Nursing and Health Sciences.
“When someone is beset by an illness, as they become aware of their symptoms and notice a decrease in their quality of life, it can be a very alarming experience. Not only for themselves, but for those who love and care for them as well,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“And in that moment of stress and – oftentimes – confusion, they need to know that they are properly cared for.
“People deserve to know that a range of high-quality medical services is right here in Fiji, not an ocean away in Australia, New Zealand or elsewhere. “They should know that their Government is committed to making their healthcare options affordable, so they can access the check-ups, medications and other services that keep them healthy. Mr Bainimarama commended the specialised training programme at CWM.
“And as my Government has expanded access to health services throughout our islands, this programme has taken those services to another level, by giving our doctors and nurses invaluable skills to carry out safe, hygienic and effective procedures that – ultimately – save lives,” he said.
Mr Bainimarama also praised the doctors from neighbouring nations who were also part of the intensive four-week training programme.
“You are here to learn life-saving skills, and will do so in the context of the Fijian health care system. The general principles and knowledge, of course, are of the same standard as anywhere else in the world. But by learning these skills within our health system and working with local patients in their own environment, you will develop tailored skill- sets that will have the greatest possible impact on the health of our citizens. Government, Mr Bainimarama said, had a vision to building a healthier Fiji a critical pillar in their longterm plan for Fiji’s national development.
“That effort is two-fold, as we seek to raise the quality and level of access to health services and empower the Fijian people to be more proactive about their own health.
“Our end goal is to create an environment where our doctors and nurses have the time and resources to give greater attention to individual patients, where they can work in more modern and functional facilities with top-of-the-line equipment, where they are compensated fairly for their services and where they can better themselves through programmes, just like this one, right here in Fiji.”