Labasa hospital extensions

Korean Ambassador Zeon Nam-jin lays the foundation of the hospital extension in Labasa
from w
In today's Fiji Times we are informed of a gift from the Korean government to upgrade Labasa hospital. Very good. I wonder why Korea is interested in a little country like Fiji?

$2m upgrade for hospital
Thursday, December 18, 2008
WORK has begun on a $2million Accident and Emergency and Eye Department at the Labasa Hospital that is expected to change health delivery in the Northern Division.

Korean Ambassador Zeon Nam-jin poured the first concrete mix into the foundation, marking the donation from his government to get the project, titled Improvement of Emergency and Community Care Systems, off the ground.

Health Permanent Secretary Dr Lepani Waqatakirewa said A&E has always been an area of concern. "The accident and emergency has been our area of concern because in the weekends when an accident happens the hospitals must be ready to cater for accidents and emergencies," Dr Waqatakirewa said.

Curative Health Care director Dr Ami Chandra said once completed, the new A&E department, which will also be outfitted with some of the latest technology, would be one of its kind in the country. The package is worth US$1.4m (F$2.5m).Mr Nam-jin said the Korean Government invested in Fiji's health care system because it wanted more Fijians to access better health care services.