TUBERCULOSIS patients in Labasa are facing increased health risks because its hospital does not have a dedicated isolation ward.
Patients are treated at sub-divisional hospitals that lack adequate isolation facilities.
Hospital medical superintendent Dr Jaoji Vulibeci said the ongoing delays in completing the hospital’s children’s ward have resulted in the TB ward being repurposed.
“Now we are using the TB ward as the children’s ward at Labasa Hospital,” he said.
“The children’s ward is still not yet completed. There is no TB ward right now.”
The children’s ward has been closed for more than a year due to extensive renovation works, including necessary electrical upgrades.
Earlier this year, Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa had said the ward would be completed and ready by March. However, nine months later, the facility remains unfinished.
Mr Ravunawa said the delay was caused by a change in contractor and the need to follow proper government processes.
He said they had to review the contractor documents before any appointment was made.
“We had to submit it to the Solicitor-General and the Minister of Finance and then make recommendations through proper governance processes.”
He did not give a definite date for when the children’s ward at the Labasa Hospital would reopen.
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