A HOSPITAL and its staff quarters have been without proper water and electricity supply the past six months.
Taveuni sub-divisional medical officer Doctor Hlathein Thein said the hospital at Waiyevo now depened on lanterns, torches, candles and rechargable lamps to light up the hospital at night.
This has resulted in the closure of the mortuary and people on the island have been told to bury their loved ones as soon as possible.
Dr Thein said the hospital generator was only being used for back up and emergency services after the Ministry of Works limited its electricity supply.
"The electricity supply has been limited so it has affected water supply to the quarters for the staff but we have managed and kept everything under control so far, especially the situation in the hospital," Dr Thein said.
"The patients are being looked after well."
At night the staff use the lanterns, torches, candles and rechargable lights to treat patients or attend to their needs.
Dr Thein said the staff have worked together to keep the situation under control.
"It's not an easy situation but we have managed well over the past months and staff fill up their buckets and drums when there is electricity supply in the day for a few hours.
No comments could be obtained from the divisonal works officer northern Iliesa Vonu.
But Dr Thein said that the hospital was lucky to have received a new generator.
"We have also been blessed to have received help from the Rotary Club of Taveuni that donated a generator to the hospital," Dt Thein said.
He said that the brand new generator would help ease the situation at Waiyevo. "The members of the Club will be here next week to complete final touches to the gerenator which involves the new swicthes so once that is complete, the hospital will be assisted in a great way with better power supply."
"The staff won't also be brudened with the thought of no electricity at work especially at night in attending to their patients," Dr Thein said.
