The recent incident at Fiji’s Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM) highlights significant infrastructural challenges within the healthcare system. Over the weekend, a power outage during a fire emergency led to a harrowing situation where newborns relying on oxygen at the hospital’s Children’s Ward had to be manually resuscitated as staff worked quickly to ensure their safety. This occurrence came after a blaze that destroyed the old Birthing Unit near the hospital.
While it is encouraging to note that no lives were lost and Health Assistant Minister Dr. Penioni Ravunawa praised the quick response of hospital personnel, the incident raises serious concerns about the preparedness of medical facilities in Fiji. Both current and previous cases have revealed that an ageing backup generator is failing to meet modern needs, exacerbating risks during emergencies.
In March, a similar power cut interrupted a surgical procedure, plunging the operating theatre into darkness, leaving medical professionals waiting for power restoration. These alarming events have prompted community advocates to call for urgent improvements in healthcare infrastructure, especially as they underscore long-standing issues regarding inadequate operating theatres and staffing at CWM Hospital.
Dr. Josese Turagava, the chief pediatric surgeon, has previously stressed the necessity of reliable power sources in hospitals, particularly during critical seasons like hurricane periods when outages are more likely. The Ministry of Health is now under pressure to implement enhancements to prevent future incidents, including urgent upgrades for multiple hospitals across the region.
While setbacks are disheartening, there is a collective call for reform and community resilience supporting the demand for better healthcare services in Fiji. The voices advocating for necessary system changes embody a hopeful commitment to improving healthcare access and quality, promising a safer and more effective healthcare system moving forward.
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