Patients at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital will benefit from improved surgical and paediatric services after the Ministry of Health officially received an $840,700 modernisation project funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including a new minor operating theatre and Fiji's first dedicated adolescent ward.
Speaking during the official handover, Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa says the project is more than an investment in buildings, describing it as an investment in people, partnerships and the future of healthcare in Fiji.
Ravunawa says Government cannot strengthen the country's health system alone, stressing that partnerships with development partners, faith-based organisations, civil society and the private sector are essential to delivering quality healthcare.
One of the major upgrades is the conversion of a procedure room in the New Surgical Ward into a dedicated Minor Operating Theatre.
He says the 49-bed ward cares for patients with severe diabetic foot sepsis, with diabetic foot surgery accounting for about 70 percent of CWM Hospital's overall surgical workload.
Ravunawa says during the post-COVID recovery period, only four of the hospital's eight operating theatres were operational while the others underwent refurbishment.
He says this meant vulnerable patients often had to be transported across the hospital for surgery, while staff also faced challenges with ageing infrastructure, unreliable lifts, shortages of patient trolleys, linen constraints and intermittent water supply.
Ravunawa says the new operating theatre will allow procedures such as wound debridement, biopsies and central venous line insertions to be carried out within the ward under local anaesthesia and conscious sedation, reducing delays, easing surgical backlogs, improving patient safety and delivering better clinical outcomes.
He also acknowledged Medical Superintendent Dr Luke Nasedra for his leadership in planning and implementing the project.
The Children's Hospital has also undergone significant improvements, including the repair and strengthening of its glass rooftop, which had become a safety concern since 2023.
The upgraded facility now includes a restored Cardiac Echo Scanning Room used to diagnose Rheumatic Heart Disease, additional biomedical rooms and extra storage space.
For the first time, Fiji also has a dedicated adolescent ward with 20 to 24 beds for young people aged between 16 and 19 years.
Ravunawa says adolescents receiving treatment for non-communicable diseases, burns, traumatic injuries and gender-based violence will now be cared for in an environment designed specifically for their physical, emotional and developmental needs instead of being admitted to adult wards.
The project also includes a Child Protection Room for abuse cases, an Infection Prevention and Control Room, a dedicated Burns Unit with a therapeutic bathtub to reduce hospital-acquired infections, and improved accommodation and rest areas for mothers and caregivers.
Meanwhile, Stake President of the Fiji Suva Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Panapasa Ratuvukivuki, says the project is about more than renovated buildings and improved facilities, describing it as a celebration of hope, healing and compassionate service.
Ratuvukivuki says the Church is grateful to partner with the Ministry of Health and CWM Hospital to improve healthcare services for the people of Fiji.
He says the investment has enabled various departments within the hospital to be repaired, refreshed and upgraded, creating a safer, more welcoming and dignified environment for patients, their families and healthcare professionals.
Ratuvukivuki says the Church's humanitarian service is deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ, with caring for those in need viewed as a sacred responsibility.
He says hospitals are places where people face some of life's greatest challenges, and every patient deserves not only competent medical care but also dignity, compassion and respect.
Ratuvukivuki acknowledged the dedication of doctors, nurses, specialists, support staff and administrators, thanking them for their commitment to improving the lives of countless people across Fiji.
He says the Church's humanitarian work extends around the world through support for hospitals and medical facilities, maternal and newborn health programmes, clean water projects, wheelchair distributions, educational opportunities, refugee assistance, food security programmes, disaster relief and community development initiatives.
Ratuvukivuki says the CWM Hospital project is an investment not only in infrastructure but also in human dignity and community wellbeing.
He thanked the Ministry of Health, CWM Hospital management, project teams, contractors and everyone involved in delivering the upgrades.
Ratuvukivuki says the improved facilities will help deliver better healthcare outcomes, enhance the experience of patients and families, and provide healthcare workers with an environment that reflects the value of their service.
Ravunawa thanked The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its generosity, saying the investment has permanently improved the standard of care at Fiji's national referral hospital and will benefit patients for many years to come.
He also called on healthcare workers to care for and maintain the new facilities so they continue serving future generations of Fijians, while Ratuvukivuki reaffirmed the Church's commitment to continue partnering with Fiji in projects that alleviate suffering, strengthen communities and bring hope to people across the country.
