Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa says the Ministry will review the safety measures in place for health workers providing services in maritime areas following concerns raised about the challenges faced by frontline workers.
The issue was raised by the media following concerns from medical professionals about the support and safety arrangements for healthcare workers carrying out services in maritime communities.
Ravunawa says healthcare workers had been providing services for decades and were committed to serving patients and communities, often putting others first while sometimes forgetting to look after themselves.
Insert: Ravunawa on staff 31st July
Responding to questions on whether the ministry was looking into having safer and more suitable boats specifically for maritime health services, Ravunawa says the ministry was definitely looking into the issue.
He says climate change had changed the conditions and challenges faced at sea, and the ministry needed to upgrade its approach to ensure boats used by health workers were safe and provided comfort for staff carrying out maritime services.
Ravunawa says the incident involving six health workers and a boat operator rescued after spending more than 36 hours at sea was a learning opportunity for the ministry.
He acknowledges the resilience of the affected health workers and the medical team in Lakeba, who provided immediate care to those rescued from the water.
Ravunawa expresses his gratitude to Dr Luke and the team for their teamwork, collaboration and professionalism in continuing to provide care while the team awaited the return of the vessel to Lakeba.
He says while the incident highlights challenges, it also showed the positive side of the response through the teamwork and dedication of health workers who provided immediate care throughout the night until the boat docked back at Lakeba.
Responding to questions from the media about concerns that safety was not highlighted in the Ministry of Health’s Strategic Plan 2026–2031, Ravunawa says he would need to go back and review the plan.
He says the concerns raised during the discussion needed to be taken seriously and, if safety measures were not included, the ministry would need to work through policy and legislation to ensure health professionals serving in maritime areas were covered.
Responding to questions from the media about concerns raised by the Fiji Medical Association regarding healthcare worker safety and the availability of a boat specifically for health services, Ravunawa says the affected team from Lakeba Sub-Divisional Hospital was part of the community outreach team providing services across the Southern Lau Group up to Ono-i-Lau.
On the boat used by the affected team, Ravunawa says the health workers were part of the Lakeba Sub-Divisional Hospital’s community outreach team, which provides services across the Southern Lau Group up to Ono-i-Lau.
He says their mode of transport had been a fibre boat fitted with a 75-horsepower engine, operated by a trained captain who had undergone Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) training.
Ravunawa says this arrangement had been used for many years, but during this incident the engine failed, and the team could not control the situation as the boat began taking in water.
