Savusavu hospital ANZ Children’s ward gets new look
ANZ Fiji country head Saud Minam (second from left), Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar (fourth from left), with nurses and hospital staff members from the Savusavu Sub Divisional Hospital during the opening of the newly-refurbished ANZ Children’s Ward on September 20, 2017.
For generations, 63-year-old, Uday Prasad and his family have been using kerosene and benzene lamps within their households.
Yesterday marked a special moment for the family when Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Parveen Bala commissioned the $20,000 rural grid connection project at Keolaiya Settlement in Sabeto, Nadi.
“Ever since I was a child we didn’t have access to electricity. The previous Governments came but still they didn’t help us despite our seeking assistance from them a lot of times. My siblings and I grew up with no electricity including my children, it’s more than 70 years now,” Mr Prasad added.
He thanked the FijiFirst Government led by Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama for the assistance. The project would benefit four homes within the settlement and is fully funded by the Government under the rural electrification scheme.
Mr Prasad says the project is a blessing.
“Just imagine my eldest child is now 30 years and all my children are working, they didn’t have the privilege to study under electricity lights. This is why I like this Government because they think about grassroots people,” he added.
His wife, 53-years-old, Kesthni Prasad said life was really hard for her and her four children, as their source of light was their kerosene lamps.
Her sister, Sarita Varma from Canada said that they didn’t have access to electricity when they young.
“I went to Canada when I was just 16-years-old , I still vividly remember those days when we had to study every night using a kerosene lamp, before the other people had access to electricity but we didn’t have that privilege, I want to thank the FijiFirst Government for their help,” she added. Meanwhile, Mr Bala said it was Government’s priority to see that people are assisted within all phases of the community.
“It has taken some years for the power lines to reach your communities, your patience and efforts have reached fruition,” he added.