Fiji’s national carrier, Air Pacific which will be known as Fiji Airways soon today announced a new partnership with a medical centre aimed at providing the country with its first ever wellness clinic.

The partnership with Zens Medical Centre in Nadi will allow the new clinic, on a referral basis to offer a range of health and wellness checks designed to achieve the goal of early detection and prevention of Fiji’s most common causes of death, namely: heart disease; diabetes; hypertension; and strokes.

Air Pacific chief executive and managing director Dave Pflieger said as Fiji’s national airline, they are committed to improving the lives and well-being of not only their staff but all Fijians.

“The Fiji Airways Wellness Clinic will contribute to a healthier Fiji by making available free wellness and health checks for patients referred by their General Practitioners,” he said.

Pflieger said the support for this new clinic is a fitting way to commemorate the rebranding of Fiji’s national airline from Air Pacific to Fiji Airways.

“In the same way that our airline is soaring to new horizons, by supporting staff wellness programs and early detection, we want to make it possible for all Fijians to soar to new horizons, as well.”

Under the four year agreement with the Medical Centre, Air Pacific (soon to be ‘Fiji
Airways’) will provide financial support, and Zens Medical Centre (Nadi) will manage the clinic and provide for specialist medical staff, supplies and expertise to perform health check-ups.

The Fiji Airways Wellness Clinic will also offer, on referral basis, various medical tests and services for other non-communicable diseases to the public free of charge.

 These include blood pressure and sugar tests, blood tests, lipid tests, hypertension screening, screening for strokes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease diagnosis and treatment, including dialysis treatment.

In addition, the airline has also made a one-time donation to help the medical centre pay off one of its dialysis machines.

By Reginald Chandar