ABOUT 50 people will undergo surgery in a specialised tent hospital set up by the Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) in Korovou, Tailevu over the next few days.
Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said the initiative was designed to ensure that people in rural areas were not denied services readily available to those in urban centres.
“The surgical team has been doing clinics in Korovou since the beginning of the year,” he said.
“So they have identified patients and have spoken to them about what the procedures will involve so they have built that relationship.
“Fijians in Korovou are now comfortable, they will be able to come, have the procedures done, have a rest and then go home the same day or the next day or a few days after — depending on the degree of their surgery.”
Dr Waqainabete said the mobile surgery team which was made up of FEMAT and surgeons and surgical staff members from the CWM Hospital would also be deployed to the Western Division.
“This is not limited to Korovou.
“In the middle of October they will also be doing it in Sigatoka, also on the Western side, teams from Lautoka are going to Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba and Nadi.
“The Government ship Veivueti is on its way to Lau carrying a small cohort of medical staff, a surgeon and a small surgical team and from Lau they will come to Kadavu.
“So the concept is about being able to take the service right to the community,” Dr Waqainabete said.
