The Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) is now preparing to assist the healthcare workers in Suva.

The 32 doctors and 29 nurses helped in serving Lautoka residents at the field hospital including the MV Veivueti Government medical ship. This after the Lautoka Hospital went on COVID-19 lockdown on May 5 for 21 days. Now Suva’s CWM Hospital has been hit.

The Acting Superintendent at the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital, Dr Luke Nasedra said it was likely that the team would be departing for Suva this Sunday.

“Our next task is to set up in Suva and we are really looking forward to that. If all goes well the team will be leaving Lautoka next Sunday,” Dr Nasedra said.

“Some of the Lautoka staff will come off the team but we will be organising the preparations.”

The FEMAT field hospital closed its doors to the public on Tuesday after the Lautoka Hospital resumed operations.

“We are making sure that everyone who goes to the Lautoka Hospital is screened and is COVID-19 free,” he said.

“Personally for me I thank members of the team because they have stood up to the challenge, it is a very challenging environment and it is a new thing for Fiji, for a tented facility to replace a divisional hospital.

“We had a clear goal from the start where we set out the objectives.”

He added the team was notified that the facility had to be highly protected and every person entering the premises must be screened”.

 nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj