Work on the CWM Hospital Maternity Ward extension is expected to resume following the announcement made by the Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum in the 2022-2023 National Budget.
Minister for Health, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete had earlier said that they are expecting the second phase of the new CWM Suva Women’s Unit or the maternity ward extension to resume soon according to their strategic development plan.
Dr Waqainabete said most of their maintenance work and development projects had to be on hold as resources were diverted towards COVID-19 response.
There has been no construction of the CWM maternity ward extension for now and it is being used to park cars.
The Ministry of Health is earmarked to have three major projects for 2022-2023 including the Savusavu Hospital, upgrade of the Labasa Hospital and the CWM Hospital Maternity extension.
Sayed Khaiyum says that it was impossible to manage major renovations while these facilities were the frontline of COVID-19 response.
He adds that even though these projects have been delayed, they will still be delivered.
The Minister for Economy says $5.2 million will go towards these projects in the next financial year where tender will be completed before they engage the suitable contractors to initiate the planned capital works.
The new CWM Maternity Extension project will offer post, ante and neonatal facilities; a first stage delivery room; a post anaesthetics delivery unit; eight new delivery rooms; three new operating theatres; a palliative Care Ward; a High Dependency Unit; conference rooms; ultrasound and x-ray capabilities, a family planning office, all built to the same standard as hospitals in more developed countries.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place in June 2018.
The Prime Minister had highlighted that there were about 8,500 babies born at the CWM Hospital in 2017.
He says in 2006 there were about 6,500 babies born and in 2010 it was about 9,100.
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