Infrastructure & Human Resource Issues are Key Focus Areas
The upkeep of health facilities, infrastructure and human resource issues are key areas of focus for the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Atonio Lalabalavu.
After a tour of medical facilities in Viti Levu and the Northern Division, Dr Lalabalavu, said it was clear that many health facilities were in dire need of renovation and repairs.
He also outlined that human resources issues within the ministry were the other key focus he would be looking at.
“The tour was part of the work the ministry is undertaking in terms of trying to assess our infrastructure and also a chance to meet directly with civil servants of the ministry,” he said.
“In doing so assess and bring back to headquarters and see how best we can prioritise the improvement of those infrastructure and the challenges they face.
“Most of the infrastructure are in dire need of renovations, up keeping, maintenance. Some are well maintained, while some need work.”
He said this would be a priority these because these facilities were where sick people got treatment and it was where health staff worked and lived in.
“We need an environment that will facilitate their work in terms of delivering health care,” he said.
Help is welcomed
Dr Lalabalavu said any help rendered to the ministry for the betterment of health care delivery would be accepted.
He made his comments after being questioned on his position on offers for help by the International Women Association on the upkeep of the CWM Hospital Maternity Ward washroom.
“Any help we receive is not only good for the ministry, but for health care delivery,” he said.
“What we want is a much more co-ordinated effort in terms of the help we get and how that help can be directed to various areas within the ministry.
“Very much needed. I welcome them with open arms and it will be co-ordinated by the ministry on where help is needed.”
He said the upgrade of the maternity ward had been budgeted in the last financial year but nothing was done.
Ambulance accident
Dr Lalabalavu said the ambulance accident that claimed the life of a woman on Sunday was unfortunate. “Something that HQ is the way forward to how best we can see how drivers who drive ambulances must keep within the prescribed speed limits for ambulances,” he said.
“Safety is paramount, safety should always come first.” The ministry is awaiting the Police report of the incident to determine further actions.