The Ministry of the Health has today launched the Hearing and Ear Disease Project and received two major packages of specialist medical equipment from the Australian Government.
This will help the Ministry deliver better quality hearing and ear disease services for children and provide hospitals with much-needed equipment to support care of newborns and new mothers.
Ear infections in Fiji are up to five times higher than New Zealand or Australia and 60% of childhood hearing loss is preventable.
Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says the project reflects the importance of partnerships between government, donors and civil society organisations to extend healthcare services to all Fijians.
He says it also supports their strategy of providing effective outreach services to ensure healthcare is closer to people’s homes with a focus on the improvement of child health through preventative measures and improved standardised care.
In addition to this, the Australian Government has supplied equipment worth $247,000 to support the implementation of these standards.
They have also provided $262,000 worth of perinatal and obstetric equipment to the Ministry of Health.
The equipment includes 4 ultra-scanners, 6 infant warmers, 8 transport incubators and 10 foetal monitors.
Dr Waqainabete says this will help major hospitals to better support pregnant Fijian women and ensure safe delivery of babies.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes says Australia will continue to support the Fijian Government and its Health Ministry to enhance the delivery of quality healthcare services across Fiji.
