The Minister for Health and Medical Services, Jone Usamate, yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement and received the keys to the Punjas Health Centre in Lautoka.

The new health centre will house an ambulance bay, two consultation rooms, ramp for bed transfers, records room, pharmacy, staff kitchen, cleaning and change room with shower facilities and amenities for the disabled.

“For the Ministry of Health, we are very grateful to witness the signing of the agreement,” Mr Usamate said.

“We know that in our march towards the vision that we have of coming up with a healthy population, we need a caring health care delivery system.”

Mr Usamate said the caring health care delivery system could not be fulfilled alone by Government, but with the help of the private sector.

“Primary health, the kind of service we provide in health centres is something that is accessible and part of the overall Government policy of decentralising.

The health centre was a way for Punja and Sons Limited to contribute to the health and wealth through the Punja Charitable Trust.

Director Rajesh Punja said the company believed that health was wealth and all efforts should be made to maintain and promote this.

“Punjas, since its inception in 1935, has kept the community at heart and this project is our way of contributing,” he said.

“This year, we mark 80 years in service and what better way to commemorate this with a gift of good health.”

Mr Rajesh said $500,000 had been invested for this project.

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