Category Public Advisory

During July, its first full month of operation, the Ministry of Health & Medical Services’ Customer Contact Centre handled almost 1,000 calls, emails and text messages from members of the public.
The main areas of concern raised by those who contacted the centre related to staff attitudes or perceived delays and long waits for attention, which together accounted for 23 per cent of the calls received. The next largest group of calls were those where the caller considered their treatment was ‘unsatisfactory’ (four per cent of the total).
Those figures have been noted by the Ministry and, while it is still too early to identify any real patterns or trends in the data, they provide a useful basis on which to monitor future performance. Where possible, additional information on callers’ actual waiting times and the reasons why they considered their treatment to be unsatisfactory will also be obtained. Such concerns may stem from inadequate explanations by staff or unrealistic expectations on the part of patients: both areas where better communication could help.
The Customer Contact Centre received compliments on services delivered in several facilities including Nadi, Navua and Wainibokasi Hospitals and Valelevu, Dreketi, Raiwaqa, Cuva, Natabua, Balevuto and Nasea Health Centres. There were also a significant number of calls (around one in four) which did not relate to health services or where the caller simply hung up without speaking. Those calls may be a result of people wanting to test out the new service or being unfamiliar with its operation. They will, hopefully, reduce over time.
By the end of the month all but a handful of the issues raised by callers had been satisfactorily resolved with the overall average time taken to deal with an issue and respond to the caller being less than 2½ days.
In a typical month more than 80,000 people attend the Ministry’s hospitals and health centres as inpatients or outpatients. The total number of complaints registered by the Customer Contact Centre in July was fewer than 350 which represents just 0.4 per cent or one in every 250 patients.

On 21 June 2017, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (Ministry) alerted the public of four (4) deaths within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Suva’s Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH). As of 11 July, a further two (2) deaths have occurred within the NICU.

The NICU is a specialist unit which provides intensive care to ill or premature infants born at CWMH, the national referral hospital of Fiji. Many of the infants who are cared for in this unit suffer significant pre-existing illnesses such as compromised immune systems.
The presence of the multidrug resistant bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii, was detected by CWMH laboratory services in samples obtained from NICU patients. This bacterium is commonly found in hospital settings and hospital patients around the world. Whilst the bacterium poses very little risk to healthy people, it can be a significant health risk to those with compromised immune systems.
A similar outbreak of this bacterium occurred within the NICU at CWMH between December 2016 and March 2017.

The Ministry and WHO are working together closely with CWMH’s clinicians and Infection Prevention and Control team to respond to this current outbreak and ensure the safety of the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.

As part of the immediate response, CWMH has increased surveillance in the hospital to support early response to new cases of infection; enhanced screening and infection precautions of all new admissions to the hospital and the NICU; and intensified its infection prevention and control measures.

A specialist team has also been deployed by WHO to Fiji to work with CWMH to try and identify a source of the bacteria, in addition to reviewing current infection prevention and control practices within CWMH and, as a further preventive measure, also examine practices in Lautoka and Lambasa hospitals. Based upon their findings, this team will be providing recommendations for ensuring that the hospitals’ current processes are appropriate, and adequate systems are in place to ensure the delivery of quality clinical care and patient safety.

Whilst a common source of the bacteria has not been found, this is not unusual as sources are only identified in 50% of all outbreaks reported globally. As sustained elimination of multidrug resistant bacteria in hospitals is extremely difficult, enhanced prevention, surveillance and early intervention measures are critical to preventing the infection of individual patients and consequent outbreaks.

The Ministry and WHO will continue to provide updates to the public on this issue.

The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Ms Margaret Twomey, will hand over to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) FJD$394,943.60 worth of laboratory equipment to support improved diabetes management in Fiji.
Speaking to invited guests at the Navua Hospital, Ms Twomey said, “Through Australia’s Fiji Health Sector Support Program, I am delighted that our investment in this laboratory equipment, and the ongoing work with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, will assist diabetic patients to lead full and productive lives. Australia is proud to be associated with efforts to prevent and manage diabetes.”
Results from both the 2002 and 2011 World health organization STEP wise surveys showed high rates of poorly controlled diabetes amongst Fijians. In an effort to better identify and manage people with diabetes, the MoHMS in partnership with FHSSP, launched a diabetes screening program in 2012 and equipped public health nurses with NCD toolkits. From 2014 onwards public health workers have also been upskilled with motivational interviewing techniques so they can more effectively counsel their diabetic clients to make positive behaviour changes and comply with treatment regimens.
This new laboratory equipment will enable the testing of HbA1c at six additional health facilities— Rakiraki, Tavua, Taveuni, Navua and Levuka hospitals and the Seaqaqa health centre. Being able to provide this test at site enables both health workers and clients to improve follow up and better manage their diabetes.
In receiving the equipment, the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon Rosy Akbar, thanked the Australian Government and FHSSP for their ongoing support, “This public private partnership is the key foundation to nurture a multi-sectoral approach that is needed to enhance the health services and collaboratively address the challenges relative to Fiji’s health sector development.”
The Minister added, “I am pleased to note that the laboratory and biomedical technicians will receive training to equip them with the skills to correctly operate and maintain the machines. This equipment will make a great impact in terms of providing the ability to better follow up and manage diabetic conditions and adjust treatment as necessary.”
If you think you may have diabetes, please go to your nearest health facility to be checked.
For any further information, please contact FHSSP Office Manager Vasiti Nailele on 9491160 or email vasiti.nailele@fhssp.org.fj

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday 24^th April 2017

Statement No: 137

MEDIA STATEMENT

New Navua Hospital Kitchen Starts Operating 

In the quest to enhance the services at the new Navua Hospital, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services had promptly undertaken all the required work to get the kitchen up and running. During the parliamentary session in February this year, the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Rosy Akbar had emphasised on the Ministry’s commitment to have the new Navua Hospital Kitchen fully operational by April 2017.  As such the work has been completed and the kitchen has been in use, providing locally-prepared meals for patients, as of last week.

Minister Akbar took a tour of the new Navua Hospital and also inspected the operations at the kitchen that has been renovated with cost of $42,000. Minister Akbar said the renovations has been completed through a close collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Construction Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Economy and the Prime Minister’s Office.

“I am also pleased to be able to report that further preparatory works to improve plumbing, landscaping and drainage are under way and should be completed by July this year. The Fijian Government remains committed to developing a healthy Fiji and as such nothing is more important to the Government than improving the health care facilities and services for people throughout the country.  

“This new Navua hospital has helped to improve the lives of the people of Navua by giving them access to an enhanced health facility that, unlike its predecessor, is no longer subject to the whims of Mother Nature. Of course, building and equipment are only a part of what underpins a well-functioning health system and the Ministry is also committed to better levels of compassion, empathy and sensitivity shown by our caregivers.

“I can assure the Fijian people that is also one of my Ministry’s top priorities. Whenever a patient visits a hospital or clinic they should feel like the doctors and nurses are fully vested in their health and recovery. Nothing less in acceptable,” Minister Akbar explained.

The Health Minister also revealed the upcoming plans for the new Navua Hospital to establish a training centre for emergency medicine for all the staff in the public health facilities. This is pursed through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Guangdong Health and Family Planning Commission, People’s Republic of China in 2015.  The delegation from the People’s Republic of China recently visited the Navua Hospital to further explore the potential of establishing the Fiji Guangdong Medical Training Centre.

-END-

The MAA International (Muslim Aid Australia), a Non-Government Organisation has been commended by the Fijian Government for its wide assistance provided towards the rebuilding of lives of families affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.

In 2015, MAA started working in Fiji through 5 major development programs and in doing so the organisation has spent over FJD $1.5 million dollars. The programs in areas of education, housing, food aid, emergency relief and sustainable development has benefited over 4000 people Fiji wide, from all ethnic backgrounds.

As part of the housing assistance, MAA International has also spend over $292,454 in rebuilding of over 50 homes for families who lost all their belongings in cyclone Winston. The handing over of the keys for the 40 new homes built in the modular homes in the Clopcott settlement in Ba. Charity homes have also been built in areas of Ra and Nadi. The beneficiaries in Ba were presented with the keys for their new homes, yesterday by Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Rosy Akbar. 

Minister Akbar commended the MAA International Organisation for its tremendous support and commitment in the rebuilding the lives of families in Fiji. 

“We are very thankful to all the partners, donors and NGO’s who have helped to rebuild the lives of families and one such organisation that has made a huge impact is MAA International. So on behalf of the Fijian Government and all the families that you have assisted, I would like to sincerely thank the team of MAA International for indeed making an extraordinary effort to reachout to the needy families.

“Such housing programs greatly compliments the Fijian Governments Help for Home Initiative. We look forward for strengthened collaboration with the MAA International to further broaden the opportunities for development in Fiji,” Minister Akbar elaborated.

Director MAA International Projects, Mr Saed Khan said all the projects are based on the principles of professionalism, best practices to assist the most needy communities, regardless of race or nationality.

“We are involved in 5 different programs in Fiji and all these are open to all people and one of the first one is the provision of education scholarship grants. In 2016, we assisted 65 students with scholarships to for tertiary education and we have spent about $315,000 in this education project. In terms of assistance during emergency, after TC Winston, we have distributed 33 tonnes of food rations benefiting the local economy at the time when it was needed.

“The other project is building of modular homes, we have already built 45 of it and 15 charity homes and we also provided building materials to families and in emergency we have spent half a million dollars this year. Last year, we have also distributed 5000 food aid packs to the families here last year. In total MAA International has spent over $1.5 million in Fiji and we are committed to same amount of aid in 2017 and onwards,” Mr Khan said.

For the 80 year Mr Ram Badan, getting new home was like a prayer being answered, after being homeless for the last 7 years he was living under the Ba Bridge.

“Living under the bridge was the most difficult time of my life. I didn’t have anywhere to go so I lived under the bridge, the thought of having a home was only a dream. And now I have a new home and I now have the opportunity to live among people who care for me. I am thankful to MAA for giving me this new life. I am also assisted by the social welfare assistance and with the new home, this assistance will go a long way in enabling me to live a dignified life,” Mr Badan said.

Mr Lekima Ratu, the 56 year old fisherman in Ba has also been assisted through MAA’s housing program.

“My house was destroyed in cyclone Winston and so far I had been staying with my Indian neighbour’s house.  I am pleased that I have been assisted with the new house and I would like to thank the MAA International for this much needed assistance that is a relief for our families,” Mr Ratu said.

Each house is built with a cost of around $6000 and it has been designed by the engineers with certified standards and the structure is also expandable.