The Ministry for Health and the CWM Hospital management has acted immediately to investigate and resolve the water leak at the hospital’s Antenatal Clinic.
This follows concerns raised by International Women’s Association Fiji President, Judy Compain, yesterday, who described the situation as a leaking disaster.
The Ministry says yesterday, a water leakage at the Antenatal Clinic was identified and the hospital’s maintenance team, under the direction of the Medical Superintendent, conducted an initial assessment, confirming that the source of the leak was an old drainage pipe.
It says the pipe had been sealed off during renovations to the maternity washrooms, carried out by an interest group, and the seal had loosened over time, causing the water leakage.
The Ministry says repairs to the broken pipe have been completed, and the Antenatal Clinic area has been cleaned and restored, ensuring the clinic is safe, functional, and ready to receive patients.
In light of this incident, the Minister for Health, Dr Atonio Lalabalavu, has directed that a detailed investigation be conducted to verify the initial findings and determine the long-term remediation measures required.
He has also ordered a temporary pause on any future renovation work by the contractors involved in the initial washroom project, pending the outcome of the verification process.
The Ministry reaffirms its unwavering commitment to patient safety and the ongoing improvement of health infrastructure.
The Ministry acknowledges the public and its partners for their vigilance and assures all Fijians that the CWM Antenatal Clinic remains a dedicated facility for the care and well-being of mothers and expectant mothers.
It also regrets any inconvenience caused by this incident to staff and the public.
International Women's Association Fiji President, Judy Compain says all of this was happening in the same week when we were seeing repeated media statements about “urgent infrastructure commitments for upgrades and commitments to transforming our health system".
She says last Friday, after inspecting work at the CWM Children’s Hospital, she walked through the CWM Ante-Natal Clinic and was shown a massive leak in the ceiling of the examination rooms.
Compain says buckets, sheets, ladders and water was everywhere.
A concerned Compain says this is an ante-natal clinic for pregnant women, not a construction site.
She contacted the Maintenance Manager, who advised her that he was at Novotel attending the Health Summit, and he was going to get in touch with his maintenance team.
Compain says one of them came in and asked her whether she would be fixing the leak.
She says she had to remind him that she is a volunteer and no, she was not going to do this one.
Compain says as of yesterday afternoon, nothing has been done, the leak remains, the clinic is flooded, and there has been no action, no urgency, and no accountability.
She asks where are women supposed to receive ante-natal care when examination rooms are unsafe and unusable.
Compain stresses that this is an urgent infrastructure failure and a patient safety crisis.
She says she cannot understand how this was not attended to over the weekend to ensure the clinic was safe for our women today.
