5,900 patients seen every month at the Twomey Special Outpatient Department Rehab Clinic in Tamavua can expect improved delivery of health services, safety, security and comfort after the commissioning of the new clinic this morning.
While officiating at the commissioning of the new SOPD Clinic, Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says this momentous occasion represents a significant milestone in their ongoing journey towards creating a more inclusive, compassionate, and resilient health system for all Fijians.
Dr Lalabalavu says rehabilitation is an essential pillar of universal health coverage, positioned alongside health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, and palliative care.
He says it embodies far more than mere recovery, as it is about restoring dignity, enhancing the quality of life, and empowering individuals of all ages to live independently and meaningfully, enabling them to participate in school, work, and community life, while providing care for themselves and their families.
He adds that the 2017 census reveals 13.7 percent of Fiji’s population aged three years and older reported at least one form of functional disability, and this data underscores the importance of scaling up inclusive rehabilitation services and ensuring equitable access for all who require it.
Dr Lalabalavu says globally, over 2.4 billion people currently live with health conditions that would benefit from rehabilitation.
The Minister says the establishment of this new clinic is the direct result of the preparatory civil works for the construction of the new National Rehabilitation Hospital, which we are all looking forward to.
Dr Lalabalavu also acknowledged the Latter-day Saints Charities who made the commissioning possible.
He also acknowledged the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government for their generous contributions which have been pivotal in transforming the old dining hall into a fully functional physiotherapy gymnasium, providing storage containers for clinical use, and constructing a wheelchair-accessible washroom—all vital components in ensuring dignity and accessibility for our patients.
Dr Lalabalavu says the total contributions of LDS Charities, DFAT, and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services amounted to $550,000.
He says that as the doors of this new SOPD Rehabilitation Clinic are now open, we should also open our minds and hearts to the possibilities ahead, achievable through innovation, inclusion, and partnerships.
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