News

$30M Veterinary Teaching Hospital to be constructed soon

March 27, 2019 4:46 pm

A multimillion-dollar Veterinary Teaching Hospital will soon be constructed to provide medical services to animals around the country.

While officiating at its groundbreaking ceremony in Koronivia, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Mahendra Reddy says animal welfare is now becoming a critical issue and people need to pay attention to address it.

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Dr. Reddy says the new animal hospital and laboratory complex will be the first of its kind in the Pacific providing the best services animals need.

“You will have referrals from across Fiji and our own Ministry’s para-vets who undertake a lot of primary care of animals. We will also require, routine health care, rehabilitation, 24-hour emergency service and intensive care, or for on-farm animal care provided through an ambulatory service.”

Dr. Reddy says the new hospital will also help in the eradication of tuberculosis and Brucellosis amongst our beef and dairy cattle.

Fiji National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Healy says the new hospital will allow students to undertake clinic practices on campus.

Healy says it will give the country’s registered vets a place to come and work with our students to raise the standards of veterinary science in Fiji.

He adds the facility will also signal to the region that Fiji is ready to lead the way in the development of the livestock industry and the raising of standards of animal welfare.

The $30 million project will help in the upgrade and the regular upskilling of para-vets which will be providing veterinary service to our farmers in the Agriculture Ministry.