Up to one-third of health facilities in Fiji do not have a reliable and safe water supply, says UNICEF representative Jonathan Veitch.
Mr Veitch said some of these facilities even have to ask patients to bring their own water, putting mothers, newborns and vulnerable patients at risk.
“No mother should have to give birth in an institution without clean water,” he told the commissioning ceremony of the Water and Sanitation Hygiene – WASH – Improvement in Health Care Facility at Nayavuira Nursing Station in Ra.
“In 2023 we started a vital journey led by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to ensure that every person in Fiji can access health care with dignity and with safety.
“And now, two years later, it is an absolute pleasure to be here today on behalf of UNICEF to hand over nine upgraded healthcare facilities in the Western Division, to the ministry, including Nayavuira Nursing Station.”
Mr Veitch said these health facilities now have cleaner, safer and climate resilient WASH services.
“To our healthcare workers, including those present here now, you have called for urgent support and resources, UNICEF and our partners are always here to respond and ensure our children get the best healthcare services.”
