“No Fijian should struggle or die because of lack of oxygen.”
Pediatrician and researcher Dr. Stephen Howie of Cure Kids Fiji stressed this while speaking at the handing over ceremony of five oxygen concentrators at the Savusavu Hospital this morning.
Five state of the art oxygen concentrator units have been installed at the 56-bed Savusavu Hospital which will help address severe pneumonia and newborn illnesses, which are still amongst the leading causes of ill-health and death amongst infants and toddlers in Fiji.
An oxygen concentrator is a medical grade device which is used to deliver oxygen to patients with breathing related disorders.
In cases of severe pneumonia in children, oxygen treatment has been shown to improve survival by 35 percent and is also an important treatment for many illnesses in adults.
Howie says this project is about addressing oxygen need and they are making sure it can be met
Cure Kids Fiji and the Australian Government have funded the project.
Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Fiji, Anna Dorney says no child or adult should die from lack of oxygen and they aim to reach this goal for the whole of Fiji.
Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete officiated at the event.
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