Our pregnant mothers are facing serious issues when they are going to the CWM Hospital due to the lack of beds and are expected to be up and walking not too long after caesarean surgeries or critical operations so that the bed is clear for the next person.
This has been an ongoing issue for years as the long overdue maternity ward extension has not been done despite being talked about in many National Budgets.
All we could see was a cleared area that was then used as a parking area, and a board saying that there will be a CWM Hospital Maternity Ward extension.
The ground breaking ceremony for the CWM Maternity Unit extension was officiated by former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in 2018.
It was announced at the time that the extension upon completion will offer post, ante and neonatal facilities, a first stage delivery room, a post anaesthetics delivery unit, eight new delivery rooms, three new operating theaters, a palliative Care Ward; a High Dependency Unit, conference rooms, ultrasound and x-ray capabilities and a family planning office.
The issue was raised during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan where the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad discussed about the National Development Plan consultation and health care facilities.
The Deputy Prime Minister says it is sad to hear these stories and they are concerned as this would affect the mental health of the mothers.
He says the National Budget is allocated to improve and ensure basic health facilities and equipment at an appropriate time.
When questioned on when the maternity unit extension will be completed, Professor Prasad responded that he is not sure about that and he will need to check with the Minister for Health, Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu about it.
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