Ngū hospital in Vava’u has serious infrastructure issues, including leaky and outdated buildings, it has been revealed.
The Minister for Trade and Economic Development Dr Viliami Uasikē Lātū had described the conditions as inappropriate and pitiable, (“’tu’unga ‘ikai fe’unga mo faka’ofa”).
“It is in a dangerous state and really needs reconstruction urgently,” Dr Lātū wrote on Facebook in Tongan.
The Minister made the revelation after he, the Minister for Health Dr Saia Piukala and Minister for Justice Sāmiu Vaipulu visited the hospital last week.
They had been joined by the United Kingdom High Commissioner to Tonga Ms Lucy Joyce and First Secretary to the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga.
Dr Lātū said the hospital’s buildings were built in 1950 followed by an upgrade in 1981 by the Australian government.
He said work is underway to rebuild the hospital.
