Hospital Services
We were at the Lautoka hospital and I saw a young man sitting by himself in the GOPD. He looked like he was in pain so I asked him what was wrong. He said he was just feeling weak.
I asked him where he was from and he said Nadi. When I said that he should have gone to the Nadi hospital he said, "If I go there I will be seen in the afternoon, I was here at 630 am and its now just after 8 o'clock and I'm about to be seen. If I go to Nadi hospital I will be seen in the afternoon."
I was taken aback by these remarks and asked a few more people and they were also from Nadi. Wow.
Please could a survey be done to determine how true this is. Is service at the Nadi hospital really slow? And why.
Invitation
Good on you Paradise Beverages for the $18 million major capital investment. It's got an apt name in Project Bula Vou .. new life.
As reported the company provides Fiji with $1m a week in economic value. Vinaka, that's much needed money. More people will be employed and families will benefit.
Once again vinaka Paradise Beverages, can you send some samples to Mulomulo for this professional to taste?
Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.
BLOG AIMS, ITS PUBLISHER AND USE
■ Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)
Friday 30 May 2014
Political Round Up for the End of May
There is a lot to report this week.
Earlier we had independent candidate Roshika Deo protesting about
the cancellation of a scholarship for one of her supporters; Mick
Beddoes provided insights into the PM's "real" character;
all opposition parties jumped onto the "disgraceful"
conditions revealed by Biman Prasad after his visit to Nadi hospital;
some parallels were drawn between the Thai and Fiji coups, and the
new Fiji-Times Tebbutt Research poll showed the PM and Fiji First had
the support of about two-thirds of those questioned — but nearly
one-fifth had either not make their minds up or refused to answer.
More
recent news sees an unusual statement from the FLP, a predictable
one from SODELPA; a difference of opinion between chiefs; a chorus
of objections by Opposition parties about Fiji First's registration;
a plea from Mahendra Chaudhry that he's being got at; news from
SODELPA and the NFP on levying their candidates to fund their
election campaigns, support for Roshika's student from PDP's Felix
Anthony, a possible loss of $22 million to the sugar industry in
which Anthony is probably implicated; and a mixed ABC report on
support for Bainimarama and Fiji First. The best rumour for the week
is that two prominent lawyers are fleeing the sinking ship.
For
weekend reading I'd recommend two thoughtfully provocative items,
the first from Satendra Nandan on The enigma of being Indian; the second on Thai coups in which the author
argues they are influenced by US policy in SE Asia.
Here
are the main items published in the second half of the week:
YOU
ARE ILL-ADVISED TO FEED THOSE WHO BITE YOU. If items for
this weekend's meeting in Lautoka are any indication, the Fiji Labour
Party seems likely to contest the elections on unemployment and the
inadequacies of the present government, normal practices for
opposition parties; the high cost of living, a perennial of Labour
parties world-wide, and, at first glance, the surprising praise for
the Great Council of Chiefs and the statement that it would
probably restore the GCC in the unlikely event it forms the next
government.
In
its quest for Taukei votes —surely the only reason to mention the
GCC— the FLP seems to have forgotten the role the GGC played in the
two coups, in 1987 and 2000, that removed two elected FLP-led
governments from power, replacing them on both occasions with parties
that it supported: the SVT after the first coup and the SDL after the
second. The GCC even made the instigator of the 1987 coup, Sitiveni
Rabuka, a life member!
The
GCC has been a major (arguably the) major power broker in Fiji
politics since Independence. With the collapse of Alliance and the
victory of the Bavadra-led FLP, they supported the 1987 coup, the
SVT Government and the 1990 Constitution that made Fiji a Christian
state and embedded Taukei (read GCC) paramountcy.
The
SVT lost support due to its accommodation with the predominantly
Indo-Fijian NFP, an accommodation which led to the slightly more
democratic 1987 constitution.
Cross-voting
in the 1989 election resulted in Chaudhry's FLP forming government,
but this lasted barely a year before the 2000 frontsman George
Speight mounted the 2000 Coup, again supported by prominent members
of the GCC. Witness the number of chiefs, including Ro Teimumu Kepa, who arrived at the
Parliament compound where George Speight held FLP and other government
MPs hostage.
This
is the institution FLP potential candidate
Vjas Deo Sharma. is now applauding and referring to as:
"a much beloved institution in our country [that was] unceremoniously wiped off the books … The chiefly system of the iTaukei had endeared for generations, right through from the Deed of Cession until it's removal by decree.We value the chiefs' contribution in guiding Fiji and in particular the bulwark it provides for unforeseen social disintegration,"
But
he confuses "chiefs" with the Great Council of Chiefs. One can respect
the chiefly system ands individual chiefs but be opposed to the GCC
interfering in national politics. And one can support a GCC whose
role is limited to Taukei affairs.
Vyas also seems to have missed
the fact that many Taukei, including many chiefs, now have serious
reservations about the interference of the GCC in politics. Advisers
to Government on Taukei title successions, land issues, culture and
custom, yes; but political interference, no.
REFORMING
CHIEFS. The Roko Tui Ba has urged chiefs at this week's Ba
Provincial Council meeting to re-visit title processes and chiefly
roles and responsibilities at all levels, from the mataqali and
tokatoka to the yavusa and vanua, so that all Taukei will be
motivated by their example to "move forward."
A
CHORUS OF OBJECTIONS. The Fiji Elections Office says it has
received six objections from political parties complaining about
procedures relating to the registration of the proposed FijiFirst
party. FF applied for registration on May 5 and the process normally
takes about 28 days. Time is nearly up before a decision will be made
to uphold or reject the objections. UFDF's Mick Beddoes has also
lodged a police complaint, saying Bainimarama was canvassing before
his party was registered.
SODELPA
leader and paramount chief Ro Teimumu Kepa continues to visit
provinces asking permission to launch the party campaign.
She
was apparently not campaigning when she told the Serua Provincial
Council this week that, if elected, SODELPA will -
restore the Great Council of chiefs, remove the reference to Fiji being a secular state and bring God back into the Constitution, return all native land to the Native Land Trust Board that previously took 25% of rental money for administration (the Government has now removed this); restore Taukei-directed scholarships; and — continue the Government policy of providing free education from kindergarten up.
The
Tui Serua supports SODELPA but says his people are free to choose the
party they support.
DECREE
TAILOR-MADE FOR CHAUDHRY. FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry says he
will defy the Elections Decree regulation that prevent a person
standing for elections who has been convicted of a crime within the
past eight years that is subject to imprisonment for 12 months or
more. He says he'll stand in the elections: "This decree has
been design to keep me out. Everyone can see that."
SODELPA
RAISING MONEY. SODELPA will help finance its election campaign
with a $3000 refundable levy from those who have applied to be
candidates.Applicants that are not be nominated will have their levy
refunded. Ro Teimumu reports the levies are coming in very slowly.
The party will contest all 50 seats in the election.
NFP
LEADER Dr Biman Prasad says the party is still to decide how much
to levy candidates and whether it will contest all 50 seats. Much
will depend on fundraising. In a further media release on policy the
party says that if elected it will review the salaries of doctors,
nurses and health workers and implement a new salary structure within
six months of being in government.
Recent polls show the NFP has
between 1% and 5% support among those polled. At best, it is likely
to be a junior partner of the government elected. To implement any
of its policies, it should be thinking hard on which party is most
likely to win the elections. Biman also said
“fear still remains in Fiji’s societies today and this is
preventing people from coming out of their comfort zones to campaign
for the September election.”
NFP
SAY COMMERCE COMMISSION POLITICAL.
NFP General Secretary Kamal Iyer has accused Commerce Commission
Chairman Mahendra Reddy of being political for correcting what he
said were misleading statements made by opposition parties on the
cost of living.
But if the facts are wrong, one would have though it
Reddy's job to correct them. Iyer needs to show Reddy has got his
facts wrong before accusing him of being political.
PFP
SUPPORTS ROSHIKA'S PLEA. PDP leader Felix Anthony has called the
cancelation of a Deo supporter's scholarship an "outright ...
denial of political freedom and rights to students who wish to
participate in the political process of the country. This Government
has denied a large section of our community from actively
participating in the political process including Unions, NGO’s and
public servants. This is plain denial of fundamental rights and must
be condemned."
He
continued: "Where is the sense in this policy? Our young people
must be encouraged to participate in the political life of our
country. The PDP has a policy and rule that 20% of all its office
bearers must be youth. It will also have youth candidates in its
election line up." He called on the Chairman of the Tertiary
Scholarship Board to explain why the scholarship has been cancelled
and said the scholarship must be reinstated. He also called for more
media freedom.
PDP
ANTHONY IMPLICATED IN SUGAR LOSSES. The
International Trade Union Confederation is lobbying stakeholders to
stop a $22 million grant to the Fiji sugar industry, and Felix
Anthony and the FTUC are at least indirectly implicated. Read
The Fiji Times article.
EU
ASSISTANCE NOT CONDITIONAL ON GCC. The
restoration of European Union assistance to Fiji does not hinge on
the return or not of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), but rather a
credible election and the return of Fiji to democracy, according to
Deputy Head of the EU Delegation for the Pacific Johnny
Engell-Hansen. Read the FijiLive report.
VOTER
EDUCATION. Electoral Commission
chairman Chen
Bunn Young has been stresing the importance of voter education for
some time now and is on record as saying he would welcome
contributions from NGOs. The response from NGOs that must submit
their educational material to the Elections Office for approval, has
been slow and only one unnamed NGO has applied to the Elections
Office for registration so far.
Read more.
JUDGES
NOT LEAVING. A
rumour circulating the anti-Government blogs at present is that Chief
Justice Anthony Gates and High Court judge Paul Madigan are jumping
ship, presumably because they fear the election outcome. Such
unfounded rumours are not new and when found wrong, they are never
retracted. . I assume their purpose is to create uncertainty and
cheer their followers.
FINALLY,
THIS FROM ABC. From Suva, ABC's Liam Fox reports "support growing for Frank Bainimarama's Fiji First party ahead of election" —and some opposition. Listen to him here.
Thursday 29 May 2014
Health Fact File
Dr Neil Sharma,. Minister of Health |
Given the attention given by the Opposition parties to the state of health services in Fiji, it is necessary to publish this file from the Ministry of Health
HEALTH FACT FILE
HEALTHCARE
SPENDS OVER $1BN
GOVERNMENT has spent over one billion dollars in improving health
services for Fijians in the last seven years as it moves towards developing a
modern healthcare system.
Its major reforms have been backed by funding through increased
budgetary allocation for the last three years.
These major investments in health infrastructure will support Government’s
efforts to decentralize, and improve accessibility to health services around
the country.
Government spent close to $160m in 2012, a further to $170m in 2013, and
boosted spending to $222.5m in 2014.
The cornerstones of these reforms are the decentralisation of services
to rural and semi urban centres which ultimately offer a cost effective serve
to all Fijians.
Reforming pharmaceutical services, upgrading medical equipment and
facilities as well better pay for medical professionals to deliver the best
effective services have been some of the measures to improve Fiji’s healthcare
system.
Prime Minister Rear Admiral Voreqe Bainimarama had also
announced further reforms in the health sector to boost primary health care to
Fijians.
This is in line with the Constitution guaranteeing adequate
health care to all citizens and the extension of the Sigatoka hospital underpins
the efforts of the Government to exploit all avenues towards this end.
2014 projects
·
Upgrade of hospitals and health centres continue to be major focus for Government. $4.9 million for the extension and refurbishment of
the CWM hospital operating theatre
·
A
further $3.0 million allocated for the extension of the CWM maternity unit.
This will cater for the increasing number of births at CWM hospital.
·
Funding
of $0.6 million has been provided for the construction of a low risk maternity
unit in Makoi and $0.25 million for the new Naulu health centre.
·
The
Valelevu and Keiyasi health centres will be renovated with a provision of $1.0
million.
·
A
further $2.0 million will be provided for the construction of a new hospital in
Nausori. The construction and upgrading of these health facilities should help
cater for the increasing population within the Suva to Nausori corridor.
·
Furthermore,
$7.3 million is provided for the construction of the new Ba hospital and $5.9
million for the upgrading of the Lautoka Hospital’s emergency department.
·
A
further allocation of $1.0 million is provided for the extension of the
Sigatoka hospital.
·
Other
major capital works planned for 2014 include a new nursing station in Nagatagata and health centres in Lagi,
Cuvu and Waivaka. A sum of $1.9 million is allocated for these projects.
Construction of Health
Centre/Hospitals/Quarters:
·
2009: Labasa hospital extension $7million, 47 beds for the men’s surgical ward, a library and
a laboratory.
·
2013: New Nasea Health Centre in the hub
of Labasa Town, services include general outpatient department for minor
surgeries, pharmacy services and a wellness centre. Benefit the people of Labasa and the Macuata
subdivision
·
2013: Standard Quarters
Cikobia Nursing Station (Macuata Province) $192,207 cost
·
2014: New nursing station in Waivaka, Namosi to boost the outreach of medical services and
facilities to the public
·
2012: Vatukarasa Nursing Station: interior of Tailevu and
Naitasiri now have access to a good health facility. The new nursing station
caters for five villages and a few settlements that are located close to
Vatukarasa Village, including Navalau and Coloi villages (500 ppl) , cost
$400,000
·
2013: Raviravi Nursing Station: people of Yanuca Island and
the villagers of Raviravi, Lalati and Rukua, to serve more than 1000 people in
the surrounding maritime areas.
·
2013: Korovisilou Health Centre- Construction of nursing Quarters (Serua Province) cost $325,000
·
2013: Dobuilevu Nursing Station in Ra. More than $1million spent on the project.
·
Work on new Nagatagata Health Centre began in
2014. Villagers of Nagatagata travelled more than 15 kilometers on foot to
visit a doctor in Nadarivatu.
·
On-going - New Navua hospital / US$3.5million,
which will cover both the relocation and construction of related facilities,
benefit 5400 ppl.
·
2013: Tonia Nursing Station in Tailevu/ $211,913 construction of grade 6 quarters
·
2013: Nayavu Nursing Station Upgrading Project/ $270,000 construction of a
duplex grade 6 staff quarter at the Nayavu nursing station (Tailevu Province)
Population of 107
·
2013: Construction of Kamikamica Park Hub Centre in Lautoka for diabetic
patients 25,000 ppl benefit
·
2014: Nalotawa Nursing Station, benefitted
500 and 700 people living in the following villages: Yaloku, Nanuku, Nalotawa, Tukuraki,
Rara, Navilawa, Tabataba, and Nearby Settlement of Cirisobu, Nalotawa District
School.
·
2012: Construction
on Vunisea Hospital quarters at a cost
of $464,000.
·
2012: Batiki Nursing Station refurbishment of clinic and construction of new
Quarters $190.000
·
2013: New Accident & Emergency opened at Rakiraki Hospital at a cost
of $170,000 benefiting 30,000
people.
·
2013: Makoi health centre mortuary benefit 53,000 people.
·
2010: Bureta health centre construction of clinic in Levuka cater 2403 people
in Bureta village and 767 in Moturiki nursing area, 21 villages, 20 settlements
and 5 schools also to benefit.
·
2010: Mualevu nursing station quarter in Lau benefitted 1, 200 people of Vanubalavu
·
2012:
New dental clinic in Raiwaqa to cater for
over 30,000 people living in the Raiwaqa, Raiwai, Vatuwaqa and Laucala Bay
area. cost of over $198,000
New Ambulances
·
Replacement
of ambulances in Labasa, Rakiraki,
Korovou, and a new ambulance at Vunidawa Hospital at a cost of $425,217. These ambulances were more
than 10 years old.
New Equipment
·
Installation
of MRI machine at CWM Hospital for advanced medical diagnosis completed in 2011
/ $3.35m
·
Construction
of Cyto-toxic Suite at CWM Hospital for chemotherapy commenced in 2010 and
completed in 2011/ $768,926
·
The
removal, installation and commissioning of the two industrial lifts at the
Lautoka Hospital started in 2012 and completed in 2013 / $988,175.52 for two
lifts
·
The
supply, installation and commissioning of an incinerator (Medivac model) at
Lautoka Hospital.
·
In
2014, renovation of 10 operating theatres at CWM hospital benefits 300,000
population of central division.
·
Equipments
such as ventilators, anaesthetic machines, cardiac monitors, treadmills and
echocardiograms installed at three base hospitals
·
In
2009, MOH established cardiac catheterization lab worth $1.8m at CWM
facilitating first angioplasty in the country.
·
In
2011, install CT scanners at Lautoka and Labasa hospitals
·
In
2010, a $2.4m to outfit all 19 sub-divisional hospitals with ultrasound
equipment and x-ray machines.
·
In
2011, Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) services at CWM
·
Mokani
mortuary and Tukavesi mortuary construction
·
Pacific
Eye Institute opened in 2011
·
In
2011, new accident and emergency department at Savusavu hospital
Decentralisation
·
Since 2011, six health centres in the central division now have extended opening hours for Lami, Samabula, Valelevu, Raiwaqa, Nuffield in
Tamavua and Makoi health centers. This
is in line with the decentralisation of Health services to better service Fijians living outside the central
areas.
Primary
Health Care
·
In 2007 to 2011, outreach clinic by CWM to
sub-divisional hospitals in Savusavu, Taveuni, Naitasiri, Koro and Kadavu
Islands. Navua hospital also provided free medical services to villages in
Namosi in 2011.
·
CWM outreach program in 2011 free medical services to
people of Koro and Kadavu. 3, 094 people of Koro and 10, 996 people of Kadavu
benefit.
·
Outreach /school health program including rheumatic heart
disease conduct screenings and awareness program in the maritime zone
·
A total of 10,000 children benefitted from this project.
And more that 10,000 adults were seen.
·
The Ministry of Health, in partnership
with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education rolled out the National Micronutrient
Supplementation Program in primary schools around the country in 2010
·
De-worming children and providing them with Iron tablets
and Vitamin A tablets to supplement their growth/program
targets to reach 52,000 students in the Central Division, 47,000 in the Western
Division, 24,000 in the Northern Division and 8,000 in the Eastern Division.
·
NCD prevention program (Bula
5-30 campaign) launched in 2008 to encourage consumption of 5 servings of
fruits and vegetables and 30 mins physical activity
·
National Oral Health Week in all divisions after
endorsements of National Oral Health Strategic Plan 2007-2011.
·
Procurement of two oral cancer detection machines in 2009.
·
Promotion of school canteen based guidelines
·
Revitalization of village/community health worker scheme.
·
Finance of nine vaccine at a cost of $1.2m annually.
·
These are rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccine for children
under 5 years and HPV vaccine for 12-14 year old girls.
·
Community mental health outreach clinics in all divisions
with new stress management wards at CWM, Lautoka and Labasa hospital in 2011
providing treatment and medication.
·
In
2011, Jaipur Artificial Limb camp at Tamavua hospital provided free artificial
limbs to 300 patients. This service is available to all people with
disabilities.
·
New
education resource centre opened at CWM hospital hospital’s children’s ward in
2011
MDG Achievements:
·
Fiji
is on track to achieve two of the three health-related MDGs by 2015 – on Maternal mortality, Infant
mortality and child mortality.
Laws/Policies:
·
In
2011, Cabinet approved HIV/AIDS decree
·
Fiji Essential Medicines Formulary
·
Fiji HIV TB Surveillance Policy
·
Influenza A H1N1 2009 Clinical Practice Guideline
·
National Clinical Products Management Policy
·
UNGASS – National Composite Policy Index (NCPI) 2007
·
Health Information Policy
·
Reproductive Health Policy and Strategy 2010
·
2008 Food and Nutrition Policy
·
Breastfeeding Policy
·
National Food and Nutrition Policy for Schools 2009
·
The Fiji Plan of Action for Nutrition 2010-2014
·
Expanded Programme on Immunisation Policy 2010
·
Fiji PMTCT HIV Policy
·
Rheumatic Heart Disease strategy (under development)
·
Child Welfare Decree 2010
·
Tobacco Control Decree
Human Resource Development
·
Cabinet
approved creation of 56 posts for doctors in 2011 and FNU introduced degree
course in public health nursing
·
In
2010, nurses increase to 170 annually for the next 3 years to meet 510
vacancies.
·
Nursing
training 40 by TISI Sangam nursing school and 40 by FNU.
·
In
2011, 109 nurses with 60 additional graduates
·
Total Nurses
from 1500 to 2400 with an estimate of 3500 in the next
three years.
Rural nurses are now provided free accommodation, and public utilities.
Rural nurses are now provided free accommodation, and public utilities.
·
76 new doctors to be recruited in 2014
SODELPA Secretary Difficult to Follow
It's not just me. If you read the article, you'll see FijiVillage journalists were also scratching their heads. See link.
Pio Tabaiwalu blamed the media after
Fijivillage questioned him on why SODELPA is raising issues about the
health sector now with just over three months to go for elections.
He
said they had released statements earlier that were not covered.
Fijivillage denies receiving any of them, and wonders why the former
SDL (now SODELPA) party that was in Government from 2001 to 2006 should only now say
hospitals are in a disgraceful condition.
Tabaiwalu blamed Government for
bragging about taking Fiji into the internet era but failing to
invest in basic data systems to give faster and more efficient
hospital service.
He does not, however, want what he
called a caretaker government to do anything about the disgraceful
hospitals so close to the the elections, and claimed that Government's
recently announced major medical reforms —some are continuations from the 2014
Budget— are vote buying.
And when questioned on SODELPA's health
policy, he said they'd need to do a comprehensive study first and
then decide on the areas of concern.
So, where does this leave us?
- SDL/SODELPA take no responsibility for the hospital conditions. They only became disgraceful after Bainimarama came to power.
- SODELPA has made a number of statements on health but the media has not published them.
- SODELPA has a health policy but it needs to study what is needed before saying what it is.
- SODELPA does not want the Bainimarama Government to do anything about the disgraceful conditions for any three months because it could influence voters.
WHAT IS THE BAINIMARAMA
GOVERNMENT HEALTH RECORD?
To put the record right, this is a summary of
Ministry of Health work since 2007 reported by FijiVillage. See link.
- Government has spent over one billion dollars on health in the past seven years.
- The country now has MRI machines, CT scanners, cardiac labs and a new chemotherapy suite. Ten operating theatres have been renovateat CWM Hospital in Suva.
- Savusavu has a new Accident and Emergency Department.
- All 19 sub-divisional hospitals have been equipped with ultrasound equipment and x-ray machines. Six health centres in the Greater Suva have extended their opening hours.
- Labasa Hospital has a new extension and Nasea a new health centre, and nursing stations and quarters have been improved in different parts of the country.
Further, it is expected that :
- the number of doctors will increase by about 400 by 2016,
- and nursing posts by 1,510 new posts by 2018.
I found it difficult to follow Pio's line of argument. He may have been better to say what the SDL did for the country's health during the nine years in which it was the government. I do not have the figures but I doubt it would come anywhere close up to what has been done in the last eight years.
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