Savusavu Residents Raise Concerns on Road, Car park Condition
Residents of Savusavu in Vanua Levu have raised concerns on the condition of the road and car park at the Savusavu subdivisional hospital.
Rohit Singh of Naveria, Savusavu, and administrator of Facebook page - Savusavu the
Paradise of Fiji - said according to the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), the problem was the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
He said when he contacted the contractor of FRA, RPA Group Fiji Limited, they said it didn’t come under their jurisdiction.
“Bus companies, residents, patients and owners of private vehicles are all complaining about the poor road condition and car park,” Mr Singh said.
Responding to emailed questions, FRA confirmed there were some potholes, which were rectified by their contractor last month and the road was accessible.
“Savusavu Hospital road is maintained by the FRA,” the email stated.
“However, the potholes on the car park area fall within Hospital premises.
“The subject area with cluster potholes is not a road, but a car park area, which falls within Hospital premises.
“Likewise for the access to the morgue, kitchen, water tank, doctors’ residence - it’s all part of the hospital premises.”
FRA added the “car parking area was not an FRA asset and FRA does not maintain other government organisation properties.
“FRA is confined by the decree and only maintains roads that are part of the authority’s list of assets.”
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete ,was unavailable for a comment. However acting permanent secretary, Dr James Fong, said he would look into the concerns.