PM BAINIMARAMA IN YASAWA...
“GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN YOU HAD TO TRAVEL OVER HALF AN HOUR BY BOAT, ONE WAY, TO SEEK BASIC MEDICAL CARE IN TECI,” PRIME MINISTER VOREQE BAINIMARAMA SAID. He told villagers to take advantage of this newfound access by taking ownership over their health a
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama arrives in Yasawa to open the Tamusua Nursing Station on June 18, 2020.
Two hundred and fifty eight people from the villages of Tamusua, Nabukeru, Navutua and the children of the nearby primary school in Yasawa will now benefit greatly from the newly commissioned Tamusua Nursing Station.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama officially opened the $300,000 project yesterday,
“Gone are the days when you had to travel over half an hour by boat, one way, to seek basic medical care in Teci,” Prime Minister Bainimarama said.
“The time and expense of getting there posed a difficult decision for your people – any time you felt unwell, you were left wondering if the situation was truly dire enough to make that journey. That’s a dilemma that no Fijian should be faced with, and it resulted in too many in your communities putting off care for too long.”
The Prime Minister urged the villagers to be pro-active and utilise the new nursing station. Mr Bainimarama said health-care wasn’t a luxury. It is a right.
“But to exercise that right, I ask that you be pro-active and utilise this new Nursing Station at your doorsteps. Monitor your conditions regularly and check in on your family members, friends and neighbours. But your own health should be your number one priority –– only by first taking care of yourselves can you take care of your community and the ones you love.”
Newly installed solar freezer
The Prime Minister also visited Tamusua Village to handover a new investment of a newly installed solar freezer.
For generations, the district has relied on the bounty of the sea to not only feed their families, but generate income in the community.
“While fishing is a way of life in many of Fiji’s coastal communities, those Fijians living in our most remote maritime areas like Yasawa have historically faced a disadvantage,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“A lack of cold storage units and ice plants has made it difficult for you to keep your catch fresh for longer periods of time, meaning that too often you saw your hard work go to waste,” Two solar freezers were given to the village.
Anaseini Balenasiga, who is part of the village women’s group that looks after the village canteen, was grateful to the initiative because it would help them store frozen goods.
“In the past, we have had the difficulties of keeping frozen goods. With this donation, we are so grateful for it. Now we will be to store frozen for up to months and we do not have to worry about it going bad or expired,” she said.
“I’m thankful to the Government and the Ministry of Women for the assistance.