By MERI RADINIBARAVI and WATA SHAW

A Board of Visitors has been appointed to oversee the needs of the Navua Hospital, including a longstanding issue of frequent water supply disruptions that forced patients to bring their own drinking water and go without showers.

This, according to Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong, when asked about the longstanding water supply issue at the hospital.

He said the issue was a temporary one, contradicting complaints by patients who said they could not even use the washrooms. Last week patients also raised concerns on the limited functioning lights at night, faulty window frames and poor ventilation in wards.

A patient said they were told they could bring their electric fans from home.

A medical officer at the hospital who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the water supply issue has been ongoing for many years.

Mr Fong, however, said the Board of Visitors was appointed last month and they were able to attend to a water disruption that resulted in patients asking family members to bring water from their own homes while being admitted.

“This was a temporary issue in the weekend, and a while ago they also had to close off the water because of some issues with Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), but they’ve sorted that out,” Dr Fong said yesterday.

“The Sub Divisional Medical Officer has been giving me a brief on it and she said it’s already sorted.

“According to those who are on the scene there, the water is running right now.” On the conditions of the window frames, poor lighting and poor ventilation, Dr Fong said, “That’s part of an ongoing repair program.

“There was a cleanup program there during the weekend and that’s the same issue that they have at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) where they have to look at buying new windows and getting some community members to come in and help us.

“I think there are one or two places that needs air conditioning but we will need the budget for that.

“We are bringing in the community to help with the repairs and cleanup because to us, that is the fastest way of doing it,” Dr Fong said.