Caption: Tui Levuka Ratu Seru Rokotunaceva, Deputy Secretary Public Health Dr Eric Rafai and Acting Australian High Commissioner to Fiji His Excellency Glenn Miles officiate the opening.
Residents in the old capital town of Levuka can now enjoy better health service delivery thanks to the Australian Government funded Fiji Health Sector Support Program (FHSSP) which provided financial and technical assistance for the overall upgrade of the Levuka Sub-Divisional Hospital.
“The infrastructure upgrade, which cost over FJD$322,000, includes improved facilities for a shared specialist outpatient department, ante-natal care clinic, integrated management of childhood illness consultation room, and improved sanitation, infection control, storage and disability access,” said FHSSP Program Director Dr Rosalina Sa’aga-Banuve.
The leaking roof and plumbing above the labour ward was completed in December 2013 whilst the repair and renovation work was completed in May 2014.
Catering for an estimated population of over 15,000 people in the Lomaiviti group, the Hospital also looks after four medical areas: Levuka, Bureta, Gau and Koro which includes four health centres and eight nursing stations.
Through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health and the Australian Government funded FHSSP, this is the first major renovation and upgrade works undertaken since the Hospital’s establishment.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Levuka on 5th June 2014, Acting Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Mr. Glen Miles said “This facility represents one of many achievements accomplished in partnership with the Ministry of Health since 2011.”
“As Australia’s health program, FHSSP works alongside health authorities to harmonize efforts in the areas of Preventative Care and, as exemplified by these new facilities, at the Clinical level. Our commitment to Health in Fiji under FHSSP totals F$55 million over five years,” stated Mr. Miles.
According to Dr. Sa’aga-Banuve, “Levuka Hospital was considered low risk but high impact and the decision was made to go ahead with the major upgrade work as part of FHSSP’s objective to support improved access to health services for the people of Fiji.”
As Australia’s flagship health program in Fiji, FHSSP works closely with the Ministry of Health to improve the health outcomes of mothers and children, address non-communicable diseases and strengthen health systems.
PRESS RELEASE