MINISTER for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar told Parliament yesterday there has been no incidence of raw sewage leakage from the new Navua Hospital to nearby creeks. What has occurred, though, was a minor leak of filtered water.
Ms Akbar was responding to an oral question from Opposition MP Salote Radrodro who wanted Parliament updated on remedial action taken regarding reports of the leakage of raw sewage to nearby creeks.
“First and foremost, I would like to clarify there was no raw sewage leakage or raw discharge into the Namelimeli creek from the Navua hospital,” she said.
“Yes, a minor leak of filtered water had occurred as the volume of waste water was in excess of the capacity of the designed soak pit to absorb. It was quickly remedied by the divisional medical officer central and his team.”
She said clinical waste was disposed properly or placed in incinerators.
She said the issue was raised by members of the Namelimeli community in Navua and since then the ministry had held four meetings with stakeholders. The ministry will now bail out the hospital’s septic tank on a weekly basis to avoid spillovers.
