New Waimaro Health Centre opens
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT HELPS FUND MAKEOVER AFTER DAMAGE FROM 2016’S TROPICAL CYCLONE WINSTON
In the absence of a health facility, the nurse responsible for Ra area continued to see patients out of her living room in her quarters. That level of commitment is exemplary and is a credit to the Ministry.
This was highlighted yesterday by the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes, during the official opening of the Waimaro Health Centre in Rakiraki, Ra.
The Waimaro Health Centre will directly serve a population of more than 29,000 people in Ra. The Waimaro Nursing Station, along with other health facilities, was destroyed during Tropical Cyclone Winston in February 2016.
Immediately after the cyclone, Australia funded the rebuilding works for the three temporary nursing stations through the Fiji Health Sector Support Programme (FHSSP), which were built by Habitat for Humanity Fiji. The total value of the support is FJ$1.2 million. The new Waimaro Health Centre is a co-financed initiative between the Australian and Fijian governments and is part of Australia’s pledge of FJ$30m to help Fiji recover from the devastation of Winston. Mr Feakes said the force of the strong winds ripped the Waimaro Nursing Station completely off its foundation. He was relieved to learn that nobody was injured, or worse, as a result.
“After months of consultation and negotiation with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services team, architects and the builder, we are happy to be here today to mark the end of what has been a remarkable journey of perseverance and community cohesion,” he said.
“This new health centre is strongly positioned to provide improved maternal and child health care services. It features a small outpatient area for consultations, a treatment room, a pharmacy, a waiting room, a two-bed observation room for emergency cases including deliveries, and a delivery room.
“We are pleased to also hand over a vehicle to assist the zone nurse in her work with community Health Workers, providing the Ministry with a stronger presence in the community,” Mr Feakes said. Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar said the centre included an upgraded health facility, doctors living quarters, and a duplex for two nurses.
“The design of the building complies with the requirements of Level C Health Centre as advised by the Ministry’s categorisation of health facilities. The facility upgrade includes the provision of necessary equipment and a vehicle for primary health care outreach. The Ministry of Health has constructed two nurses’ quarters.
“The initial scoping and preparatory work for this activity was undertaken by the previous health program managing contractor,” Ms Akbar said.
The Australian government also donated a brand-new vehicle to assist in primary health care for the district.