Work is underway to address issues at the Tavua Hospital – Min. of Health

The Ministry of Health acknowledges the concerns recently raised by the Fiji Labour Party on Tavua Hospital and is working to address the issues highlighted.

The Ministry says the need for urgent maintenance of the hospital including the ablution block have been identified, and they have commenced the contractor engagement work towards addressing this matter in the current financial year.

They say the current Dengue outbreak in the western division is placing pressures on outpatient and inpatient services at Tavua hospital as well as other hospitals in the western division.

The Ministry anticipates that this will continue and asks members of the public to bear with the Ministry until the public health measures currently undertaken by the Ministry officials and community members takes effect in controlling mosquito population in the division.

The Ministry acknowledges the episodes of shortage of medicines and medical supplies at our facilities and has since worked hard to ensure timely replenishment of medicines and medical supplies at all our facilities including Tavua Hospital.

They say the statement incorrectly stated that the dispensary was critically short of medicines, prescription drugs and other medical supplies at the time of its release, as a check at the hospital would have noted that medicines and medical supplies had been re-stocked and available for the public.

The Ministry is concerned that such comments may have a negative impact on the people’s health seeking behaviour, and strongly encourages members of the public to continue to engage with their local health facilities for their health needs.

The Health Ministry says in addition, the current Government’s extended Ministry’s Free Medicine Program (Program) provides eligible members of the public access to private pharmacies for medicines they need.

A total of 139 medicines are included under the Program, and members of the public are advised to enrol under Program to be able to access medicines at their local private pharmacy.

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 cases have been reported in the first two months of this year.

According to the Ministry of Health, 1,277 dengue cases have been reported this year, with 757 cases recorded in the Western Division, 273 cases in the Central Division, 221 cases in the Northern Division and 31 cases in the Eastern Division.

The Ministry is advising the public to continue to be vigilant and take the necessary measures to protect themselves and their families from dengue.