Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Rosy Akbar today officiated at the launching of the Valelevu Health Center’s 24/7 General Outpatient Services in Nasinu.
The Valelevu Health Centre is one of the biggest and busiest health centers in Suva Subdivision serving a total population of 58,000.
On a daily basis, the health centre serves an average of 500 to 700 patients per day and even reaching up to 900 patients during disease outbreaks.
Minister Akbar said now with the opening of its doors for 24 hours and seven days a week, Valelevu Health Centre is expected to serve an estimated population of about 200,000 people along the Suva-Nausori corridor.
“These developments are aligned with the ongoing efforts of the Fijian Government to reach out to all Fijians be it through education, health, infrastructure, housing, primary industries and trade to name a few,” Minister Akbar said.
She said the 24/7 operation of the health centre also means that people, who are victims of road accidents, are attended to and stabilized before transfer to the CWM Hospital.
“This will also mean that people will still be able to access health services without missing work or school and prevent people from overcrowding the health centre during early hours in the morning and in the afternoon after work or school rushing to the health centre before it closes.
“The Fijian government has committed a lot of resources towards the realization of this 24-hour service. The number of doctors and nurses was increased to cater for this additional service. A 24-hour ambulance services will be based at this health centre for rapid response and transfer of acutely ill patients,” Minister Akbar added.
The Valelevu Health Centre is manned by seven medical officers, 26 nurses and three nurse practitioners, and it started 24/7 operations from Monday 15th January this year.