Weekly Niue News http://www.niuenews.nu/ _______________________________________________ > Hospital Plans Revealed: Niue's government is seeking > expressions of interest from New Zealand contractors to > design and build a new hospital for the island.While > reluctant at this stage to discuss the likely all up cost > of the 12-bed hospital, Premier Young Vivian says New > Zealand has been persuaded to inject $1million into the > project. The money will come out of the $2million New > Zealand gave Niue earlier following January's Cyclone Heta > which so devastated the island's infrastructure, the Lord > Liverpool Hospital being one of the buildings smashed. > > Mr Vivian said the EU has agreed to donate $1.2million > toward the new hospital.Speaking after the Pacific Islands > Forum leaders' summit in Apia, the Niue leader said his > government was talking to other potential > donors."Preferably we want full funding before we start," > Mr Vivian told Pacific affairs correspondent John Andrews. > "Once we have an [acceptable] expression of interest, we > can let a contract. We are not committing ourselves until > they get the final figures for construction."New Zealand > Prime Minister Helen Clark indicated her interest in the > hospital project during bilateral talks she had with the > Niue Premier in Apia.He explained there had been about 100 > medical referrals since the cyclone. Some patients, > maternity cases included, had to leave the island because > of the lack of a > hospital > > It cost about $1300 per person to go to New Zealand, funds > which came out of New Zealand's aid allocation to Niue.Mr > Vivian said there was no way the new hospital would be up > and running by Christmas.After he returned to Niue, some > delegates involved in post-forum dialogue in Apia have been > considering Niue's situation.Sources closely involved > suggest that, as officials from several countries become > aware of Niue's hospital plight, some positive responses > are becoming apparent. >
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