PEOPLE on the island of Koro will now access a newly reconstructed and upgraded Koro Maternal and Child Health Centre, a partnership project which cost about $634,000.
The upgraded health facility was opened and handed over to the people on the island today by the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes and Fiji’s Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar.
The upgrade project was funded by the Australian Government following destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016.
The new wing includes a delivery room and an antenatal clinic, and has been built to withstand category 5 cyclonic wind speeds. It will also act as a safe haven in the event of an emergency.
The older building has also been refurbished to include a new energy supply in the form of a generator and a hybrid solar-wind harvester.
“The new MCH clinic will also empower our health staff to rigorously reach out to as many communities through public awareness and community outreach programs on Safe Motherhood and health development,” Ms Akbar said.
“The Koro Health Centre that is inclusive of this new MCH clinic will be manned by one doctor and three nurses.”
Ms Akbar added that they were proud of the strengthened collaboration with Australia that has also doubled the strength in rebuilding efforts.
According to Mr Feakes, the resilience of the people of Koro Island was an inspiration for many.
“Australia is honoured to have been part of the TC Winston response and recovery work and to support the rebuilding effort – so important to the lives of the people of Koro,” he said.
“After TC Winston hit, Australia was part of the initial response, with services of the Australian Defence Force, accompanied by a team of medical doctors, nurses and paramedics providing immediate assistance and distributing emergency supplies. Koro, then, I am told and as you well know, was completely destroyed … I am truly privileged to be here to officiate the opening and handing over of the completed Maternal and Child health Clinic to the Government of Fiji.”
Following TC Winston, Australia supported the construction of three temporary Health Centres for three sites: Kese (in Yasawa), Waimaro (in Rakiraki) and Nasau ( now Koro Health Centre on Koro Island) as part of its post TC Winston response and recovery activities.
The Koro Health Centre now meets the standard for Level C Health Centre.
