KOICA to provide $22.2 million grant to establish Fiji's National Rehabilitation Centre in Tamavua

Minister for Health, Dr Atonio Lalabalavu says the Korea International Cooperation Agency will give a grant of $22.2 million to establish Fiji's National Rehabilitation Centre in Tamavua.

Dr Lalabalavu says last year Cabinet approved a subsidiary arrangement between his Ministry and KOICA.

He says this is not to replace the current Twomey Hospital, but rather to replace the old Tamavua Military Hospital, or the former Tamavua rehab facility.

The Minister says most of the Tamavua Hospital has been assessed to be non-compliant with OHS requirements from the non-maintenance of the aging buildings and facilities that were built many decades ago.

He says although they have experienced some delays in finalizing the relocation of all services currently offered at the old Tamavua Hospital and the clearance of utilities servicing the hospital, the Tamavua Hospital team and the Ministry's Assets Management team have been working closely with the Ministry of Works and KOICA Fiji office in the last 10 months to ensure that the site is ready for the KOICA construction team anticipated movement into the site in January of 2025.

Dr Lalabalavu says the Latter Day Saints Charities, has also indicated its willingness to provide the funding of more than $300,000 required for the temporary relocation of the Rehab Facility Hospital to the Twomey Hospital for the duration of the construction. He says Government has allocated funding of $400,000 in this financial year for the demolition and preparation of the hospital site for the new rehabilitation hospital.

The Health Minister says the project team is also expected to be travelling to Fiji later this year for ongoing discussions with KOICA, Fiji Office team and the Ministry's team and the project designers as they continue their preparation for this very important project.

He says the detailed design phase is anticipated to be completed in September this year and the process of tendering of project will subsequently follow in October 2024.

Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya queried if this rehabilitation centre, is specifically for physical impairment rehabilitation or is it also going to take care of our drug-dependent people at St. Giles Hospital, to which Dr Lalabalavu says it is only for physical impairment.

Dr Lalabalavu adds, in terms of the allocation, the grant will cover not only the construction but also the capacity building and the final equipment.