The project to renovate the registrars’ on-call room and the consultants’ room at the CWM Maternity Hospital has been completed, providing doctors and registrars with a clean, respectful and comfortable resting space while on duty.
The project was handled by the International Women's Association (IWA) Fiji and began almost two weeks ago.
Speaking to fijivillage News, IWA President Judy Compain highlighted that the purpose was to give doctors and registrars a decent resting and meeting space in between calls and during breaks from their work.
Compain says the project was undertaken by IWA after she observed the condition of the rooms during her regular visits to the hospital.
INSERT: Compain on project 24th Feb
She says that improving the environment would have a direct impact on staff morale and performance.
Compain says the renovation saw a complete overhaul of the two rooms, with new beds and linen purchased, new desks and office chairs installed, and new curtains fitted.
She says a proper kitchen sink and cabinet were built to replace a small hand basin previously used to wash cups, saucers and hands.
Compain says a new air-conditioning unit was installed, and security and privacy were also addressed, as the walkway between the consultants’ room and the registrars’ room has been sealed off and locked to ensure the space is accessed only by doctors and not the general public.
She says the project cost between $25,000 to $30,000, with funding coming from IWA supporters, members and the general public.
She also acknowledged the strong support received, including private messages and financial donations from people who followed daily Facebook updates on the progress of the work.
Head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at CWM Maternity Hospital, Dr. Kelera Sakumeni has acknowledged the support provided by IWA.
She says the renovation of the doctors’ on-call rooms and the consultant's room will make a lot of difference for the doctors, ensuring that they have a place where they can come and rest in between the cases that they see.
Dr. Sakumeni also acknowledged IWA’s broader contributions to the department, including support to the antenatal clinic, donations of equipment and ongoing supplies of consumables.
Meanwhile, the IWA has already identified another project at the hospital, which is the renovation of the dental surgeon’s on-call room.
The room, which serves registrars and doctors at the dental clinic, is currently in what Compain described it as another sad and sorry state of the conditions that our doctors are subjected to as their rest and meeting area.
She says there is a leak in the ceiling and rotten timber that will need to be repaired as part of the upgrade.
She adds that work on that project will begin this Friday and is expected to take another week and a half to complete.
