The renovation works at the Raiwaqa Health Centre are still underway, with the facility expected to take some more time before it can reopen and services move back from the temporary location at the netball centre.

Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa says the health centre is being renovated, with plans also in place to expand the facility due to space constraints.

He says Government is looking to acquire land in front of the health centre and extend the facility behind the existing fence.

However, land-related work, including the redefinition of boundaries, still needs to be completed.

Ravunawa says this means the return to the Raiwaqa Health Centre will take some time.

Once the works are completed, services will move back from the netball centre to Raiwaqa.

In the meantime, patients can access nearby facilities including Samabula Health Centre, Valelevu and Lami.

Ravunawa also says social welfare recipients can use registered private GPs through the Government’s public-private partnership by presenting their free medical or social welfare card.