It has been a while since any Board of Visitors has had an audience with the Health Minister, especially in the headquarters and entertain the board on their issues they are facing.
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Atonio Lalabalavu highlighted this when questioned on the CWM Maternity Ward bathrooms, which he says has been budgeted for in the last few financial years.
Dr Lalabalavu says there is a billboard out in front of the main hospital but nothing to show for it.
He also says he will have to go to the Maternity Ward again to see some structural issues, and how those issues are affecting the repairing of the facilities.
Dr Lalabalavu adds once that is taken care of then all the rest can be done.
fijivillage News asked if the Health Ministry will accept the help of the International Women's Association.
The Minister says it will have to be coordinated within the Ministry on how best the areas that they can help in.
International Women's Association President Judy Compain had come out publicly to voice her concerns on issues at the CWM Maternity Hospital that they had identified back in 2018.
Compain said 4 and a half years later, the conditions have worsened.
She further said they were turned away by the former FijiFirst Government after offering their help, and the Ministry said at the time that they were going to undertake renovations and upgrades to the bathrooms.
The Association President adds this was after photos of the bathrooms went viral in 2018 and former Minister for Health Rosy Akbar demanded that the Association remove the photos.
Compain says when IWA refused, the Ministry threw a tantrum and asked them to leave.
The IWA President says four and a half years later, photos taken on 16th January, 2023, will reveal more disgusting, mold-infested and dilapidated bathrooms.
She adds the bathrooms are in a much worse condition than in 2018 and looks like there could be a serious outbreak of infection if there hasn't already been one.
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