Over 14,000 people in the Northern Division now have reliable access to oxygen as Cure Kids Fiji, the Australian Government and the Ministry of Health have come together to install state-of-the-art oxygen concentrator units at the Lekutu and Wainunu Health Centres.
A joint statement by Cure Kids Fiji, the Australian Government and the Ministry of Health say these oxygen concentrators will help combat many sicknesses in children including severe pneumonia and newborn illnesses by supplying reliable 24-hour oxygen with the support of solar units.
It says that in cases of severe pneumonia, oxygen treatment has been shown to improve survival by 35% and is also an important treatment of many illnesses in adults.
The team leader of the Fiji Oxygen Project, Dr Eric Rafai says oxygen is the first and foremost treatment to serve illness or trauma and patients will now have consistent access to oxygen and health workers will worry less about the next supply of oxygen cylinders.
The statement says the Fiji Oxygen Project is now active in six key sites around Fiji and aims to roll out nationwide with an additional eight sites in the next two years.
It says that the current sites include the Waiyevo Hospital in Taveuni, Nabouwalu Hospital, Nausori Health Centre, Savusavu Sub Divisional Hospital, Wainunu Health Centre and Lekutu Health Centre.
The Project has been funded by the Australian Government as well as Cure Kids Fiji through the support of Cure Kids Fiji’s donors including ANZ Bank, Captain Cook Cruises, AccorHotels, Armacup, and Rotary.
With the support of ANZ Bank, the annual ANZ Fiji500 cycle event raised over FJ$114,000 this year, providing a huge boost in funds towards the completion of these projects.
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