$2.3m warehouse construction project

THE construction of a warehouse extension at the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services is expected to cost $US1m ($F2.3m) and is funded by the World Bank under the COVID-19 Emergency Response Project.

This, according to Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.

He made this comment during the new warehouse groundbreaking ceremony at the Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services (FPBS) on Thursday.

“Quality health services are pivotal during emergencies and serve as the interface between communities and the health system,” Dr Waqainabete said.

“Today’s (Thursday’s) milestone groundbreaking ceremony of this new warehouse is an important component in the supply chain management for FPBS.

“The Program Development Objective is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness.”

Dr Waqainabete said the project had been prepared under the global framework of the World Bank COVID-19 Response financed under the Fast Track COVID-19 Facility (FTCF).

“The total funding envelope of the project is $US7.35m ($F16.93m), including $US5.5m ($F12.67m) equivalent International Development Association IDA Credit country allocation to Fiji from the Crisis Response Window.

“The three major component of the project are – emergency COVID-19 response $4.85m, health systems strengthening $1.40m, implementation management, monitoring and evaluation $1.10m.”

He said the expected project beneficiaries will be the population at large given the nature of disease.

“This includes infected people, at risk populations – particularly the elderly and people with chronic conditions, as well as medical and emergency personnel, medical and testing facilities and public health agencies engaged in the response in Fiji.”

Dr Waqainabete said the assistance from the World Bank was timely as it would further assist the ministry to adequately address the current situation and prepare the ministry to combat the emerging life threat diseases that would hit the shores.

“The warehouse will be completed quite fast and we look forward to have this up and going hopefully before the end of the year into early next year.”