Australia provides $327,022 worth of assistance for aged care facilities

Australia has provided more than $300,000 to the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation to assist in the recovery and response measures for the eight aged care homes in Fiji.

This comes after an agreement was signed between the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, TISI Sangam and the Ministry.

The assistance is targeted at adding value to the frontline services in these aged care homes where each home will receive 14 staff over a period of 12 weeks.

TISI Sangam will be responsible for more efficient recruitment of a total of 112 staff.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar says it will create a positive impact on the quality delivery of services in the respective care settings.

She says since the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in April, most frontline workers in the existing aged care homes have spent time away from loved ones.

Akbar says the timely assistance by DFAT will create a positive impact on the quality delivery of services in the respective care settings.

Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes says they are very pleased to support the Ministry with their efforts to increase frontline health staff at aged care facilities across Fiji to ensure older members of society continue to receive high quality health support services during this time.

He says Australia remains committed to standing with their Vuvale as we face the challenges of COVID-19 together.

The Ministry manages three state homes for older persons and there are 8 residential facilities in total that care for older persons in Fiji.