Almost 5000 people residing in Ra Province will have the benefit from the refur­bished Nasau Health Centre. It also eliminates the need for residents to pay travel expenses to go to the Ra­kiraki Hospital.

While officiating at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the Government was committed to improving health services in rural and maritime communities.

The Government injected $830,000 into the construction of the health facility.

“This ensures that every single one of you is given 24-hour access to our modern medical facility,” he said.

Included in this is the accommo­dation of its medical staff – one medical officer, two nurses and other staff.

He said the 19 villages in the dis­trict of Nasau could breathe much easier, knowing that high quality medical care was around the cor­ner.

“Finding and paying for transpor­tation expenses to travel to Rakira­ki will now be a thing of the past,” he said.

“My Government is 100 per cent committed to ensuring that every Fijian has equal access to our ris­ing standard of health care and every other Government service available.”

Mr Bainimarama said this was part of their commitment to leav­ing no one behind.

The heath facility is currently powered by generator and solar system and is expected to have elec­tricity 24/7 soon.

Rural allowance

Mr Bainimarama said civil serv­ants in rural and maritime com­munities would be paid allowances – $1200 for single officers and $1800 for married officers – for their ser­vices per annum.

This has been set aside in the 2022-2023 financial year, amounting $5.87 million.

“Strong and resilient rural Fi­jian communities are the future of Fiji,” he said.

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