By Lute Vaksiuola
Appraisals have begun for the construction of a dialysis center in Nuku’alofa, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for the end of the year, Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, said Oct. 20, in Nuku’alofa.
It will go hand in hand with educating Tongans on the importance of healthy eating, with the aim of combating the crippling effects of diabetes on the community.
The project is a main results of recent meetings that the Prime Minister recently attended in the United States.
The talks included the establishment of an Embassy of the United States of America in Tonga.
The PM said after meetings with senior White House officials in Washington last month, the proposed embassy was now a top priority, with talks underway about a consular service to meet the needs of locals needing visas .
“A team was here in Tonga last month for an assessment and we will work with them on their schedule,” he told a news conference.
The PM also confirmed that, following meetings in Salt Lake City with a foundation, they plan to have a Dialysis center by May 2023.
“The inauguration ceremony is planned for the end of this year and we are grateful that this important health service is available for our inhabitants who need it.
“Having said that, educating Tongans about diets will also be very important in the fight against diabetes,” he said.
Dtalks with the US President, Joe Biden and WE government, focused on the new embassy, climate change and the challenge of keeping carbon emissions to 1.5%.
They also talked about capacity building and opportunities for Tongand in the WE, cybersecurity and maritime security, especially in the surveillance of our oceans, and the rising cost of living that is affecting everyone right now.
WE Tongans
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Tongans in the WE who welcomed him and his delegation.
“We wanted to meet the Tongans in the WE express our sincere gratitude to them for their continued support to Tonga, especially after the volcanic eruption/tsunami.
“We also wanted to update them on developments in Tonga and whether there are any issues we can help them with.”
