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Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Fiji Celebrates Clean Water And Safe Sanitation In Healthcare Facilities
Nayavuira, Fiji, 25 June 2025 – More than 30,000 people in the Ra Province, Western Division, including around 9,100 children, will now be able to access nine healthcare facilities with cleaner, safer and climate resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. The project is funded by the Government of the Republic of Korea* and implemented by UNICEF under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. The upgrade of WASH services in the facilities has already brought real change by upgrading water supply, increasing storage capacity, building separate toilets for females, males and those living with disabilities as well as creating handwashing stations. National standards on WASH facilities have also been developed to complement Fiji's guidelines for climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities. 'Korea remains committed to supporting the well-being of the Fijian people and strengthening the country's health system. The newly renovated Nayavuira Nursing Station, which we are handing over today, represents an important part of that effort. This upgraded facility will serve as a vital part for improving the health and well-being of the people of Nayavuira Village,' said Korean Ambassador to Fiji, H.E. Jin-Hyung Kim. 'Our deep appreciation to UNICEF for their tireless efforts in implementing this project, and to the Fiji Ministry of Health for their strong and substantive support.' Access to clean water, safe sanitation, and hygiene in healthcare facilities is essential for quality care and saving lives. Yet in Fiji, many healthcare facilities still struggle. According to the 2021 Joint Monitoring Programme data, only 69 per cent had basic drinking water while the nationwide WASH facility assessment undertaken in the past two years in 200 healthcare facilities showed only 66 per cent had water supply available on premise. Some even asked patients to bring their own - putting mothers, newborns, and vulnerable patients at risk. 'The health of our citizens starts with the fundamentals - access to clean water, safe sanitation, and proper hygiene,' said the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Dr. Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu. Healthcare workers have been calling for urgent support, and resources to ensure every person in Fiji can access care with dignity and safety. This new completed upgrade to the facilities will address these challenges by not only ensuring uninterrupted access to safe and dignified health facilities for children and their families but will also protect healthcare workers by ensuring infection prevention and control. 'This upgrade is more than just infrastructure - it is a promise to Fiji that their health, safety, and dignity matter. It means mothers can give birth in clean, safe environments, children can receive care without fear, and healthcare workers can do their jobs with the protection and respect they deserve,' said UNICEF Pacific's Representative, Jonathan Veitch. 'We thank the Government of the Republic of Korea for their generous support in making this a reality.' The nine facilities include Namarai, Waimaro, Nanukuloa, and Rakiraki Health Centres, Vunitogoloa, Nasau, Nasavu, and Nayavuira Nursing Stations, as well as Ra Maternity Ward. Notes: *This funding is part of Korea's larger US$30 million global support to UNICEF under the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) Phase 2. This initiative was carried out by 34 country offices across all seven UNICEF regions between 15 December 2024 and 15 December 2025 to help them recover from the impacts of the pandemic. Phase 1 of the project in Fiji was from January 2024 to December 2024. Phase 2 started in January 2025 and will conclude in December 2025. This support is part of Korean Government's broader three-year, US$300 million commitment to ACT-A from 2024 to 2025. The regional allocations of this grant were determined through collaboration between UNICEF's Public Partnerships Division offices in New York and Seoul and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Country-specific allocations, including Fiji's, were guided by technical experts at UNICEF headquarters, in close consultation with regional colleagues. About the Government of the Republic of Korea: The Korean Government feels obliged to give back to the international community for the support it once received. In this spirit, the Government of the Republic of Korea is actively promoting a wide range of development projects - from small-scale grants to large-scale infrastructure initiatives. In Fiji, our efforts are primarily focused on three key sectors: health, energy, and maritime. As a reliable partner to Fiji who shares core values such as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, the Republic of Korea remains firmly committed to supporting Fiji's development and the well-being of its people. About UNICEF: UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Nearly one in five South Africans lack access to safe sanitation, KwaZulu-Natal households still struggle to fetch water
More than one-third (35,8%) of households in KwaZulu-Natal without piped water in their dwellings or on site took more than 30 minutes to fetch water. Image: Oupa Mokoena Independent Newspapers KwaZulu-Natal continues to face significant challenges in providing basic water and sanitation services to its residents, with new data revealing that many households still spend over 30 minutes fetching drinking water. In addition, nearly one in five South Africans still share sanitation facilities. This is according to the 2024 General Household Survey (GHS) released by Statistics South Africa. The survey found that 35.8% of households in KZN without piped water in their dwellings or on site took more than 30 minutes to fetch water, highlighting ongoing difficulties with access in the province. While 83.3% of households in KZN had access to at least a basic level of drinking water, this is still lower than national leaders such as the Western Cape (99.8%) and Gauteng (99.6%). The GHS also showed that provinces like KZN, Limpopo (86.4%) and the Eastern Cape (87.8%) recorded the highest reliance on surface water, a key indicator of limited or unsafe access. The report distinguishes between levels of water access using what the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) calls the 'water ladder.' The highest level is 'safely managed' water available on premises, when needed, and free of harmful contamination. Basic water requires a collection time of less than 30 minutes; anything longer is considered 'limited.' Nationally, more than two-thirds (67.8%) of households that fetch their water do so in under 30 minutes, but 5% spend over an hour, underscoring the severity of the issue in specific communities, especially in rural areas. The situation is further complicated by sanitation challenges. The survey shows that only 76.3% of South Africans had access to safely managed sanitation services in 2024, those that are improved, not shared, and where waste is treated. Despite being a more urbanised province, Gauteng had the lowest access to safely managed sanitation at 66.1%, while the Eastern Cape (85.3%), Mpumalanga (84.7%), and the Northern Cape (84.4%) topped the list. Nationally, 19.9% of South Africans shared sanitation facilities, but this figure was much higher in urban areas (31.9%) compared to rural areas (13.2%). Urban informal settlements often lack the infrastructure for private toilets, and multiple households are forced to share, creating hygiene and dignity concerns. Interestingly, rural areas surpassed urban areas in access to safely managed sanitation, with 79.6% compared to 74.6%, largely due to space availability for household-level improved facilities, even if they are basic. The GHS explains that, under Sustainable Development Goal 6.2, a sanitation service is only considered safely managed if it is improved, not shared, and waste is properly treated, either on-site, via off-site treatment after collection, or through a sewer system. Only 46.2% of households nationally had sanitation facilities inside their homes, while 3.1% relied on facilities outside their yards. These figures reflect the ongoing infrastructure gaps, particularly in under-resourced or overcrowded areas. THE MERCURY
