Minister of Health appeals for cooperation from Ikiti

The Minister of Health, Jerome Ludvaune, has appealed to the chief and the people of Ikiti village in Southwest Tanna, to work together with contractors to complete the rehabilitation project

on the village’s dispensary which is part of the Cyclone Pam Rehabilitation Program.

Mr. Ludvaune made the call in his speech Friday to the people gathered at the village where he traveled to perform the groundbreaking for the project.

“Please work together with the contractors for the project, Island Construction, and don’t fight,” he said with a chuckle.

“I say this because I know us people of Tanna, having lived and served here six years.

“I ask for your cooperation so the project can be completed quickly and with the required standard and quality as the dispensary will be for the people, and not for the government.”

The project, valued at Vt30 million will involve the construction of a new dispensary and a staff house for the nurse. Construction is expected to start in January after the New Year holiday and take six weeks to complete.

Minister Ludvaune apologized that the rehabilitation of the dispensary was only now taking place, nearly two years after damage to the health facility by Cyclone Pam. But he promised this government of Prime Minister Charlot Salwai was committed to pushing ahead with the program because it was important to the people.

A registered nurse, Philip Iauera, currently serves at the dispensary and the Minister of Health assured the chief and people of the village that the Government will provide an additional registered nurse and a midwife for the dispensary once the rehabilitation project is completed towards the end of February.

Registered Nurse Iauera said Ikiti dispensary serves an increasing population of 4,000 people and sees an average of 20 outpatients every day.

This is the second island for the new Minister of Health to visit after the visit to his home-island of Malekula Wednesday following his appointment early this month.

He was accompanied on this tour by MP for Tanna Nakou Natuman, his Private Secretary, Kalfau Moli, the Director General of the Ministry of Health, George Taleo, George Iapson, the First Political Advisor of the Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Tanna Joe Natuman, Tafea Province Secretary General Reynold Surmat, and the Acting Tafea Provincial Health Manager Lui Naling.

Before starting his tour the Minister and his delegation called on the President of Tafea Provincial Council, Job Deo, the SG and Assistant SG David Tovuvur. After visiting Ikiti and performing the groundbreaking for the rehabilitation project for the dispensary, the Minister and his delegation visited and met with the staff of Lenakel Hospital where he laid a foundation for a new TB ward for the hospital and unveiled a foundation stone at Imaelone village for a new clinic for the area from Whitegrass to Loukotai village to be constructed at a site still to be decided.