Direct attempts were made earlier this week by the Ministry of Health to disengage from the International Women’s Association who have been voluntarily assisting the ministry in upgrading facilities at the CWM’s Maternity and Children’s hospitals, the Oncology Ward, and Saint Giles Hospital amongst others.
IWA President, Judy Compain has tweeted that in 2018, the then government ousted IWA from the CWM Hospital for revealing shocking conditions at the Maternity Hospital. She says earlier this week, the Ministry of Health tried to do the same.
Compain asks whether the MOH does not want IWA in the hospital and she also asks Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Biman Prasad whether it was his visit to the hospital.
fijivillage News understands that Professor Prasad had toured the health facilities with Compain two weeks ago where Compain highlighted serious concerns about the facilities which are yet to be fixed.
Compain recently headed a IWA fundraising to get an echo machine for the CWM Children’s Hospital to ensure that Rheumatic Heart Disease tests can be conducted for children at the hospital rather than the hospital borrowing the equipment which they have been doing for years.
She had also confirmed that they will get a new lift for the Children’s Hospital which has not been fixed for about 5 years.
Now, the ministry is saying that they will get the lift as they have the budget for it.
We understand that issues discussed during Professor Prasad’s visit to CWM also highlighted issues such as toilet paper not being provided to the women and children in their wards.
During the visit at the hospital’s stores, many toilet paper rolls were seen, which also raises the question on why this is not provided to those in real need in the hospital to maintain personal basic hygiene.
fijivillage News has also been informed that IWA received a letter from the Ministry of Health that they could no longer engage with IWA as they were not a registered organization as stated by the Ministry of Justice. However documents were then provided showing registration details of the organization.
Health Minister, Doctor Atonio Lalabalavu says there has been no decision made to remove the International Women's Association, and they welcome any assistance from people and organizations after information surfaced that there was a direct attempt by the Ministry of Health to disengage from IWA.
When questioned by fijivillage News, Doctor Lalabalavu confirms there was an email sent to IWA but it was not to remove IWA from CWM Hospital.
The Ministry of Health has released 3 statements regarding IWA and recalled it this afternoon.
IWA President, Judy Compain has continued to maintain that they are a registered organization.
A record $355,000 has been raised through the International Women’s Association Fiji’s Valentine’s Charity Ball held at Grand Pacific Hotel over the weekend.
While thanking the 450 people who bought the $300 tickets, IWA President, Judy Compain says their aim was to raise about $350,000 to pay for an echo machine that the CWM Children’s Hospital do not have and to replace the lift at the Children’s Hospital which has not worked for 5 years.
Compain says donations are still coming through from this morning and they hope to raise about $370,000.
She says the quote for the new lift is about $250,000.
Compain says the Charity Ball tickets were sold out, and the biggest supporters were the corporate organisations from Suva, which means that they are happy to give the money as they see the work that the International Women’s Association is doing.
She says the amazing support has motivated her and the doctors to do more.
Compain says it has always been a concern that the CWM Children’s Hospital does not have an echo machine to conduct tests for Rheumatic Heart Disease.
Compain says these are just two things but they need to do more at the CWM Hospital. She says they are still working at the Oncology Ward.
Compain says they will also do some work at the Maternity Ward in the next two months.
She is calling on people to come forward and assist, and has continued to call on the government to make health facilities and services one of their top priorities.
Last year, the IWA raised about $170,000 during their Charity Ball to raise funds for CWM Hospital.
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