11,000 People to benefit from upgraded WASH facilities in rural Ba

More than 11,000 people in rural Ba are expected to benefit from upgraded water, sanitation and hygiene facilities commissioned by the Minister for Health Dr Atonio Lalabalavu at three healthcare centres.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony at Namau Health Centre, the Minister says the new Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects mark another important step in improving healthcare services for rural and remote communities.

The upgraded facilities include Namau Nursing Station, Balevuto Health Centre and Nailaga Health Centre.

Lalabalavu says access to safe and adequate water is essential in protecting public health, reducing disease and ensuring communities can receive healthcare services with dignity and safety.

He says the projects address long-standing challenges faced by many frontline healthcare facilities, including unreliable water supply, unsafe toilets and limited handwashing facilities.

The Minister says the upgrades now provide restored water systems, increased water storage capacity, separate toilets for men, women and people living with disabilities, as well as improved handwashing stations.

He adds that around 3,300 children are among those expected to benefit from the improved facilities.

The projects were led by the Ministry of Health with funding support from the Government of the South Korea and technical support from UNICEF.

Dr Lalabalavu also highlighted findings from the 2024 WHO–UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme, which revealed that while 94 percent of hospitals in Fiji have basic water services, conditions remain uneven in smaller clinics and nursing stations.

He says 79 percent of healthcare facilities still have limited sanitation services, 12 percent have unsafe or broken toilets, and only 42 percent have proper handwashing facilities.

The Minister says these gaps continue to place mothers, children, patients and healthcare workers at risk.

He also highlighted the sustainability aspect of the initiative, noting that 20 plumbers, both women and men, have been trained to maintain WASH services in healthcare facilities across the country.

Dr Lalabalavu thanked the South Korean Government and UNICEF for their support in helping strengthen healthcare services in Fiji’s rural communities.