The Fiji Times

Burden on patients

Villagers await rehabilita­tion of Naqarawai Nursing Station

- By SAINIMILI MAGIMAGI

NAQARAWAI Nursing Station has remained vacant for almost two years, causing patients to travel further for medical attention.

This came about after the nursing quarters were burnt in 2022.

The then health minister, Ifereimi Waqainabet­e, had promised the villagers the quarters would be rehabilita­ted in no time. However, that did not occur.

When it was operationa­l, the station catered to the three villages of Naqarawai, Wainimakut­u, and Naraiyawa. It also looked after the medical welfare of students of Naqarawai and Wainimakut­u secondary and primary schools.

Villager Ilaitia Mice said with the unavailabi­lity of nursing quarters to accommodat­e nurses, villagers either travel to Navunikabi Nursing Station or Navua Hospital for medical attention.

The trip from Wainimakut­u to the Navunikabi station is roughly a 30to 40-minute drive.

In most cases, major medical emergencie­s lack immediate attention because of the distance of these villages to the Navunikabi Nursing Station.

During heavy rainfall, most of the Irish bridges leading to Navunikabi are submerged, forcing most patients to be treated within the confines of their homes.

Namosi public administra­tor Laisenia Tui said an issue with the land on which the nursing station was located had been ongoing and may be the cause of the delay.

He said they were in an arrangemen­t with the Health Ministry to allocate nursing staff who hailed from one of the three villages.

The nurse staff is to reside in the village until they resolve the land issue and refurbish the nursing station.

Questions sent to the Ministry of Health on Tuesday, February 13, remain unanswered.

 ?? Picture: JONA KONATACI ?? The vacant Naqarawai Nursing Station in Namosi.
Picture: JONA KONATACI The vacant Naqarawai Nursing Station in Namosi.

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