Works on new rehab centre to begin soon

PM Rabuka said this was due to the building condition being very old, unmaintained over decades and past its expiry date.

Works on the demolishment and the rebuilding of a new National Rehabilitation Centre in Tamavua will begin soon.

This was after Cabinet approved the subsidiary arrangement with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for the project on the Establishment of the Fiji National Rehabilitation Centre Project ting on Tuesday.

While making the revelation during a post Cabinet meeting press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the old rehabilitation centre located within the Tamavua Twomey Hospital, after assessment by relevant authorities, was declared an occupational health and safety (OHS) non-compliant facility.

This, he said, was due to the building condition being very old, unmaintained over decades and past its expiry date.

“As per the arrangement, the Korean Government, through KOICA, will provide a grant in aid of no more than USD$10,000, 000,” Mr Rabuka said.

“The project will start this year.

“In 2021, the ministry and KOICA agreed to collaborate and work together on the project to improve the quality and quantity of rehabilitation medical services, and access for the vulnerable population.

“Further discussions with KOICA culminated in the submission of an application by the ministry to the Korean Government for bilateral funding support for the project.”

He added that the ministry, as part of its contribution to this project, was committed to providing the initial operational cost to demolish the old rehabilitation Centre, the cost for site preparation, including the relocation cost of moving health services of the Old Rehabilitation centre to the Tamavua Twomey Hospital.

He said the ministry would also facilitate other administrative measures for the design and construction of the building.