ACTING New Zealand High Commissioner Phillip Taula has officially opened the new Nacavanadi Nursing Station which will serve five villages in the tikina (district) of Vanuaso on Gau Island.
"The opening of the nursing station is something we have been looking forward to and we know it is something that you have also been waiting for with some patience," Mr Taula said.
"We believe the time and effort have produced a nursing station that will provide a high-quality long-term and very important asset for this community."
Mr Taula thanked the community for its support throughout the project.
"Funding for this program was made available through the New Zealand aid program and through this aid program we give $7million each year for assistance to Fiji.
"The support is in recognition of our long relationship with Fiji and our very strong people to people links, and our shared interest and ensuring that Fiji continues to develop both economically and socially."
Mr Taula said NZ aid not only assisted the community to recover from natural disasters but to make communities better prepared for future disaster events.
"We believe the nursing station provides for both these focus areas to rebuild an important health facility that was damaged during a natural disaster and to ensure the new nursing station has some important features that would ensure it provides service and increase resilience for the community including solar power and a backup generator," he said.
Mr Taula said water catchment from the roof and water storage facilities, high quality roofing, roof strapping and fittings would increase strength and resistance to cyclone, and communication equipment would enable the community to maintain contact with the mainland during disaster events.