Vila Central Hospital annex offically opens

Despite the heavy rainfall in

Port Vila yesterday morning, over 100 people, that included invited guests, student nurses, current and retired medical practitioners, friends, and families assembled at the Vila Central Hospital (VCH) compound to witness the inaugural opening of the extension of the VCH complex under the hospital’s redevelopment project.

The Vila Central Hospital annex includes a two-storey Out Patients Department building with the following functional areas:

• Outpatients Department inclusive pharmacy
• Emergency Department
• Laboratory Department
• Radiology Department
• Operation theatres

At the rear of the VCH complex and within some areas of the existing VCH complex, ancillary structures were built with the following features:

• An elevated water tank at the top of the VCH grounds
• A pump room
• Transformer room
• Blower room and
• Sewage Treatment Plant and soak pit at the rear of the facility for environmental waste management.

The equipment provided as part of the project was for specialist areas such as emergency, outpatients, operation, radiology with initial service agreement support by the third parties and spare parts and consumable supplies provided.

According to the Minister of Health, George Wells, training was provided to users and maintainers in order to address key sustainability issues for biomedical equipment which Pacific Island Nations face.

In his speech, Minister Wells acknowledged that through the grant funding agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Vanuatu signed in June 13 2012, the construction of this world class facility to support Vanuatu’s growing population and medical needs has been made possible.

While it was heard during the inauguration of the VCH extension that the very first hospital in Vanuatu was built more than 100 years ago, the Health Minister related that VCH was originally established in 1974 providing services as Vanuatu’s main referral hospital and also as a training institution with post-graduate training for specialist doctors.

He provided a brief summary on the hospital’s situation, implying why there was a need to have the VCH extended.

“VCH also provided space for intern training, known as the Vanuatu College of Nursing Education, however, since 2009, this has been under separate management, with new facilities built at the rear of VCH grounds.

“The hospital has approximately 152 beds with an availability rate of around 60%. The outpatient numbers on an annual basis is equivalent to approximately 45% of the population of this country which also indicates the stress on existing medical services being provided by the VCH over the past years”.

A JICA preparatory survey was conducted in February 2010 to support the construction of a new VCH facility to expand the existing one, which saw the construction works began in 2012.

The launching of the building was officiated by Prime Minister, Joe Natuman.

An honor was also given to Head of State, Baldwin Lonsdale, who unveiled a plaque as part of the ceremony.

The ceremony was sealed with the planting of sandal wood by Minister Wells, to support an initiative by the Department of Forestry in turning Port Vila into a Sandalwood City.

The government of Vanuatu conveyed its appreciation to everyone who were involved in the development of the redevelopment project.

A special mention was made to the Government of Japan, the people of Japan and JICA for supporting and providing assistance towards the development of Health Service delivery, including other sectors of the government within Vanuatu.

The Vila Central Hospital annex is a gift from the people of Japan to Vanuatu.