Hospitals on Viti Levu are grappling with significant risks attributed to recurrent power outages caused by thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, which have exposed weaknesses in the health system’s infrastructure. The Health Ministry has raised alarms regarding the performance of aging backup generators, stating their inadequacy to ensure patient safety during prolonged blackouts.
Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa noted that recent outages, especially an incident at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, have exerted considerable strain on healthcare staff. He stated, “Most of our generators are ageing… We have our support team on the ground for the last 24 hours, monitoring and ensuring that patient safety and care are not disrupted.” This situation has been exacerbated by years of neglect and mismanagement in maintaining health facilities across the country.
Ravunawa highlighted a concerning rise in healthcare demand, particularly in the Suva-Nausori corridor, which the current system struggles to meet. Issues such as poor strategic planning and the disconnect between operational needs and long-term policies have compounded maintenance backlogs, leaving hospitals in crisis mode with insufficient resources to remedy infrastructural failures.
While the Ministry of Health is developing improved planning and resource allocation strategies, immediate challenges linger, and the need for civic pride was emphasized by Ravunawa. He called upon communities to respect hospital facilities, acknowledging the invaluable support from civil society organizations and corporate entities working on maintenance efforts.
Despite these ongoing problems, Ravunawa expressed a commitment to stabilizing hospital operations and assured that the Ministry is focused on providing healthcare staff with the necessary support they require. However, he warned that without substantial investments in infrastructure and maintenance, power failures would continue to jeopardize patient care throughout Fiji’s healthcare facilities.
Reflecting on previous similar incidents at CWM Hospital, the Ministry is under pressure to reassess and upgrade infrastructure to mitigate risks further. Such evaluations will hopefully lead not only to improved conditions but also to a more resilient and capable healthcare system in Fiji that can meet its citizens’ needs.
The community’s resilience and active participation in demanding reforms signal hope for a more dependable healthcare future, ultimately aiming for safer and more effective medical services across Viti Levu.
Leave a comment