AG to look into the issue regarding the Decompression Chamber not working in the country

AG to look into the issue regarding the Decompression Chamber not working in the country

By Vijay Narayan
Tuesday 14/08/2018
Decompression Chamber

Minister for Economy and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says he will definitely look into the issue regarding the Decompression Chamber not working in the country.

Questions have been raised by a Savusavu resident in the National Budget Roadshow at Copra Millers Fiji Limited on when the Decompression Chamber at CWM Hospital will be replaced.

Sayed-Khaiyum says this is a concern and he will check with the Ministry of Health.

Fijivillage has been raising this issue with the Health Ministry since March last year.

Questions have been raised on what the Health Ministry is doing about setting up Decompression Chambers in the country as there can be many cases of bends that can also result in death as there is a lot of commercial and recreational diving in Fiji.

Fiji only has one Decompression Chamber in the country at the CWM Hospital, and that has not been working since early last year.

The bends, also known as decompression sickness, occurs in divers when dissolved gases, mainly nitrogen, come out of solution in bubbles and can affect just about any body area including joints, lungs, heart, skin and brain.

It is caused by the formation of bubbles of gas that occur with changes in pressure during diving, and if not treated, can lead to death.

The process to fix it is called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy which is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure to address bends.

The equipment required consists of the pressure chamber, and a means of delivering 100% oxygen.

The Decompression Chamber is also used as one of the ways to facilitate healing in severely infected wounds, especially those linked with diseases that result in impaired blood flow to wound sites as in Diabetes.

The Ministry had earlier stated that in the absence of the Decompression Chamber, other ways of managing these wounds will have to be relied on.

Legend FM News has contacted the Health Ministry again. We are waiting for their response.

FEATURE NEWS
We have observed a decline in the number of superbugs at CWM - MOH
The Ministry of Health has today said that they have observed a decline in the number of antibiotic-resistant organisms or superbugs being isolated at...
14 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Grace Road found to be breaching employment and health and safety laws
Grace Road Company throughout Viti Levu has been found to be breaching the Employment Relations Act 2007 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1996 ...
11 hours ago

USP Celebrates Global No.1 Rankings for Tourism and Hospitality Programmes
The University of the South Pacific (USP) has achieved global recognition for its excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education, earning the No. 1 ...
12 hours ago

Open-heart surgeries for Fiji and the region
Great news for the people of Fiji and the greater South Pacific Region as the regions largest and highest rated super-specialty private hospital ...
12 hours ago

Australia launches bill to ban social media for children under 16
The Australian Government has tabled a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and proposed fines of up to $73.3 ...
13 hours ago

6,659 drug cases recorded in 5 years with 1,615 cases recorded last year - ACP Raikaci
6,659 drug cases were recorded by the Fiji Police Force over the last five years, with last year seeing the highest with 1,615 cases. Acting ...
13 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Doctor Alipate Vakamocea on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Fiji Medical Association President, Doctor Alipate Vakamocea will appear on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan The show will focus on ...
8 days ago

Mangal and Akauola on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Adult Teen Challenge Fiji Executive Director, Hemraj Mangal and Director, Matai Akauola appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan The ...
8 days ago

Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
15 days ago

TOP