Solar panels to bring new life in Yasawa

Good news for the villagers of Nacula and Kese in Yasawa as solar panels were commissioned for their health centres which will power the oxygen concentrators and also provide much needed electrical supply to the rest of the health facility and all the medical appliances within.

Minister for Health, Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu says the impact of the solar panels in powering the Oxygen concentrators and facilitating around the clock the availability of oxygen in health facilities is vital in saving lives.

Dr. Lalabalavu says this will improve access to oxygen therapy for patients presenting with respiratory illness symptoms.

He says the timely provision of oxygen therapy reduces death from severe pneumonia in children by 35 percent and that is lifesaving in the initial treatment of acutely ill patients.

The Minister says the solar panel for Kese and Nacula will benefit a population of more than 2,000 which includes staff and guests of 14 resorts, 7 primary and 1 secondary school.

He says this is another initiative to improve the health facility infrastructure which supports the working conditions of the staff and therefore improve the level of health care they provide to those they serve.

Dr. Lalabalavu says just not long ago he served right there in Nacula and he didn’t have the luxury of having a solar panel at the time.

He says he still remembers very well during his maiden speech 9 months ago in Parliament, that one of his main priorities is to improve the state of infrastructure for the 220 medical facilities around the country.

The Minister thanked the NZ First Secretary Sarah Nesbit and her team from the NZ’s Foreign Affairs & Trade for their generous support in ensuring the Fiji Government through the Ministry of Health & Medical Services achieves its mission of having a healthy population.

He says to the villagers of Nacula and Kese here in Yasawa, Government is leaving no one behind in their mission of achieving a healthy population.

Dr. Lalabalavu urges them to make use of the medical facility by visiting the doctors and nurses regularly for screenings and vital health check as our health is our wealth and the onus for a healthy life is in your hands.

He adds last but not least, to the staff serving here in Nacula and Kese medical facilities, he assured them that things will improve – it may not be today, but change is coming and they will see better days ahead.