Fiji’s CWM Hospital calls for action amid overwhelming demand
SUVA, FIJI — The Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital is struggling to meet the surge in patient demand and is calling for immediate action.
“We have 500 beds, but it’s not able to meet the demand that is coming through… CWM was created to look after a certain amount of people,” said CWM General and Chief Pediatric Surgeon at the CWM Hospital, Dr. Josese Turagava.
Dr. Turagava noted that CWM has a long waiting list of cancer patients. However, due to staff and facility shortages, they cannot tend to them immediately.
Patients suspected of having appendicitis from Nauva District had to endure the same as Dr. Turgava said it takes two to three days before a bed becomes available.
Just three or four of the eight operating suites at the hospital are functioning. One of the ceilings of the suites even collapsed in the middle of an operation.
CWM’s sterilizing machine has not been replaced for 24 years. The hospital has also been outsourcing work after its boiler and laundry room caught fire more than two years ago.
According to Dr. Turagava, the surge in demand is from people’s immigration to the Lami, Suva, and Nausori corridors.
CWM was built in 1923. It has a total of 1,117 staff members, comprised of 133 doctors, 534 nurses, 173 paramedical and management staff, and a support team of 277 workers.
