The Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday thanked staff nurse Lavenia Merekula for the wonderful work she has been doing at the Dawasamu Health Centre.

She has been dubbed Nurse Courageous by the people of Dawasamu as had it not been for her persistence there would not have been a nurse’s quarters.

Ms Merekula had pleaded with Mr Bainimarama for a nurse’s quarters to be built at Dawasamu when the Prime Minister was there in 2014.

Initially there was no provision for a nurse’s quarters at the Dawasamu Health Centre.

She was sharing the same building that housed the Dawasamu Health Centre clinic.

She is the only staff nurse in the area looking after more than 15 villages and settlements.

“I am so happy to have my own place,” Ms Merekula said.

Staff nurse Merekula said for her transportation was not a problem as she sometimes travelled by horse, trekked over terrains and swam to reach her patients.

Prime Minister Bainimarama told the people of Dawasamu to look after the nurse and the quarters properly.

Vilimoni Masi said they would like to have staff nurse Merekula remain with them and not to be transferred elsewhere.

Meanwhile, in the talanoa session the request for a new water source was raised.

Primary school manager Waisele Savu said they badly needed a new water source.

He said that the only available one was on a freehold land.

The Prime Minister said they had to find another one as the water source on the freehold land cannot be used.

Prior to his opening the nurse quarters Mr Bainimarama had visited Korovou Hospital, Ratu Kadavulevu School dispensary and the nearby burnt down Dogo Health Centre.

He has urged the Ministry of Health to quickly replace the health centre.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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