A Hyperbaric Chamber was commissioned this morning by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva.
The equipment was purchased from one of the most reputable Hyperbaric Chamber manufacturers in the world, Totalmat Industries Limited of Brazil for more than half a million dollars.
To be used for the treatment of Decompression Sickness, the installation of the chamber was delayed by the pandemic as company engineers could not get into Fiji until June this year to complete the installation process.
Also commissioned this morning was the newly refurbished female ward and Administration building at Fiji’s only specialist national referral hospital for mental health - Saint Giles.
Currently catering to 132 inpatients, the Hospital’s $1 Million upgrade has seen a deteriorating building converted into a 13-bed unit for female patients who are transitioning to go home for short term leave or who are being discharged from inpatient care.
In his remarks Prime Minister Bainimarama reminded guests present of the toxic stigma, shame and bullying that still surrounds the area of mental health.
“In a time when we have access to so much information, literally in the palm of our hand; when we know that challenges related to mental health can affect any of us in the course of our lives; and when we know that a mental health issue is exactly the same as having an illness or disease in any other part of the body where you would require medical attention – I am at a loss as to how so many people continue to propagate a culture of taboo and silence,” said the Prime Minister.
To read more of the Prime Minister's Speech click here:
https://bit.ly/3x4G1Xw