In 1987, a former medical technician offered to repair leaks at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital’s gas system for free.
According to an article published by The Fiji Times on September 8 that year, Indar Jit, of Koroqaqa, Nausori, a former technician with CIG Fiji Ltd, claimed the cost of parts for the repairs would not be more than $5000.
Mr Jit described suggestions that replacing the old system would cost about $500,000 as a “rip-off”.
He met officials of the Department of Health and hospital superintendent Dr Peni Rika to discuss his proposals.
“I have offered my services free for a month. The department will have to pay for my spare parts and travel costs,” Mr Jit told this newspaper.
He said repairs would probably take two weeks.
A report in The Fiji Times that the leaks would cost $500,000 to repair had prompted him to write a letter to the newspaper.
The report stated the pipes were too old to repair and the entire system would have to be replaced.
It said attempts at patching up the leaks in the pipes were not effective.
The hospital was also reported to have been losing about $500 worth of oxygen a day.
Mr Jit refuted claims that the pipes were irreparable.
“The pipes carrying oxygen from the cylinders to different parts of the hospital are all copper pipes with lifetime guarantees,” he said.
He said if repairs needed to be carried out, they would be at the outlets or the manifolds.
The manifolds and outlets were designed to take wear and tear and for repairs to be done at a reasonable expense.
“The CIG company is the only expert in this field in Fiji and when I read that it was going to cost $500,000 to carry out routine repair work, I felt I had to let people know.”
He further refuted claims by the hospital that there was a danger of the system exploding if a match was lit near the leaks, but he said, one of the manifolds had a vacuum pump which was lubricated by oil.
“The possibility of a fire exists here but the cylinders are kept in a locked room with an orderly on guard all the time,” he said.
Mr Jit said the manifolds and outlets needed monthly checks and maintenance every six months.
The aesthetic specialist at the time, who recommended that the $500,000 change take place, said that contrary to earlier reports, the sum would be used to replace the hospital’s British gas system with CIG equipment.
The sum included anaesthetic machines and equipment connected to the gas system.
“It is ridiculous to suggest that it would cost $500,000 just to install a new piping system,” he said,
He said in converting to the CIG system, the hospital would be updating its equipment to world standards.
Dr Rika said he would discuss with the department, Mr Jit, hospital staff and CIG before deciding on taking up Mr Jit’s offer.
