Minister for Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment Praveen Bala has confirmed that a new multi-purpose medical vessel will arrive in the country in mid-April from Malaysia.

The 41 metre long vessel has the capacity of transporting 316 tonnes of water to drought stricken islands and can also cart a maximum of 250 tonnes of general cargo.

“The vessel contains a fully operating room and recovery room and can carry up to 40 passengers,” Mr Pala said yesterday

“The new vessel would provide hospital operation services to support people during disaster relief and humanitarian operations,” he said.

“The multi-purpose vessel will provide quick relief response and basic medical services during and aftermath of natural disasters, facilitate medical outreach programmes and or disease outbreaks.

“Lessons learned from the events of natural disasters in the past years have provided an incentive to modernise Fiji’s disaster response capabilities and make disaster response more proactive rather than reactive.

“Now doctors will be able to conduct medical check-up at maritime islands.

Mr Bala said the vessel will be looked after by his ministry and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.