AUSTRALIAN-owned Johnstaff International Development (JID) has been selected to deliver the $14.7million redevelopment master plan of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH).
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong made this announcement in a ceremony at the CWMH’s Peace Garden yesterday after a short tour of the hospital’s Emergency Department, radiology, and the Maternity Ward.
“I’ve heard about the challenges you face in meeting demand for services, the rise in non-communicable diseases, increased demand as a consequence of changing demographics and, of course, the impact of the drugs epidemic,” Ms Wong said.
“Following a competitive procurement process, Johnstaff International Development has been selected to deliver the CWM Hospital master plan in partnership with GHD, Silver Thomas Hanley and International SOS Australasia.
“Australia has investing $14.7m to develop this master plan, and the master plan that Johnstaff will develop, and its partners will assess the future health needs for Fiji, for the workforce and infrastructure required for a high-quality national referral hospital.
“So, we have also committed to conduct an urgent and detailed engineering assessment of the existing hospital buildings to ensure the hospital can continue to serve the people of Fiji while the master plan is being developed and implemented.”
Ms Wong said the completion of the process would see an improvement in the health services in Fiji.
JID director and acting chief executive officer Alison McKechnie said they would work closely with the sub consultants to develop the master plan “that sets the course for a future, fit-for-purpose, national referral hospital”.
“The master plan will be challenging, and it will take time to deliver,” she said.
“Broad consultation is going to be needed, and we need to be careful we are hearing everybody. I want to thank the staff of CWM Hospital for your willingness and your commitment to work with us.
“We also understand that you are facing immediate challenges, and as part of delivering the master plan, we will conduct this rapid engineering assessment of all of the CWM buildings to determine what is required to keep the current hospital operational, but also to make sure that it all fits the long-term plan.”
Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu has acknowledged the assistance rendered by the Australian Government, saying that the ministry was grateful that this project was finally in progress.
