The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is exploring options to enable patients isolated at the National Gymnasium to have access to shower facilities.

This was after a concerned patient, who is currently isolated at the National Gymnasium, raised concerns about the lack of availability of shower facilities for patients.

The patient claimed that he had not had a shower since Sunday.

Health Minister, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete, said this was a challenge faced at the moment with the authorities, as the number of people being isolated increased.

“It is a gymnasium and like any other, there are a limited number of showers available and we are trying to look into options to have some more of these in the facility,” he said.

“We chose this facility because it met COVID-safe guidelines in terms of ventilation, space and other guidelines and we are dealing with the challenges that we continue to identify.”

Another option

He said another option they were looking into was the safe transfer of patients isolated in the facility to the main hospitals.

The showers are understood to be for medical personnel.

“To try and control the number of people in the facility we are also transferring some of them to the hospital facility where they can be isolated and observed by a doctor in all needed facilities,” Dr Waqainabete said.

He also added that the ministry was working with the Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) team and the Australia and New Zealand Medical Assistance team, in ensuring patients were safe and that FEMAT facilities were sufficient enough for them. Edited by Jonathan Bryce

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj