Disruptions caused by COVID-19 have forced the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to halt works on the planned extension of the Maternity Unit at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.

The work’s groundbreaking ceremony was in 2018 and clarification on its progress was made by the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete.

He said the first phase of works which included groundworks and the demolition of some infrastructure had been completed.

“The next phase of the project will begin in the next financial year,” he said.

The plan is to have four operation theaters in the facility, an addition to the eight already in the hospital.

Tamavua Rehab Hospital
Dr Waqainabete also said that there had been ongoing discussions with the design team of the new Tamavua Rehab Hospital.

“They were here last week where we talked about the design of the hospital,” he said.

“As we speak, the Rehab Hospital in Tamavua is now empty because of OHS issues and they are being looked after in the Twomey Hospital.”

“We have had COVID for about two years and also the fact that during that time we had to concentrate our resources including our maintenance work in our facilities and other isolation facilities having to ensure that we keep up with the volume of work during the pandemic.”

He said an example was Lelean Memorial School that was used as an isolation centre.

The Ministry spent about $175,000 in upgrading the facility.

This is apart from other schools including Adi Cakobau School, Nasinu Secondary School and other isolation facilities that the Ministry had to use.

“Those are the areas where our capital and minor works projects went,” Dr Waqainabete said.

“So these areas if they are needed to be used again as isolation facilities, God forbid, we will be able to use them again because of the investment made to these areas.”

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