A 62-year-old diabetic patient, Mohammed Azim of Vunimoli, Labasa, was given hope and assurance by the Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Veena Bhatnagar.

Not only did he receive a new wheelchair, he was also assured by Ms Bhatnagar that the ministry would assist him with the Poverty Benefit Scheme.

“I have been in great pain finding it difficult to walk after my operation on my left foot in February last year,” Mr Azim said with tears in his eyes as he told Ms Bhatnagar.

Mr Azim and his wife Shamin, 59, have left their house in Seaqaqa to live in Vunimoli so that he is closer to his siblings. His children are married and have their own families.

“The other reason I am living in Vunimoli so that it would be easier for me to attend my clinic at Labasa Hospital,” he said.

“I am in deep debt and the only source of income my wife and I depend on is what we had made after harvesting 200 tonnes of sugarcane from our farm at Seaqaqa.

“Please can your ministry give me some allowance so that we can survive whatever days we have?” he pleaded with Ms Bhatnagar.

“I had a wheelchair but it was old and difficult to move around in this two bedroom house.”

Ms Bhatnagar said: “We are going to assist you as much as we can as we assure you that we understand your situation and want to help you.

“There are many diabetic patients whose legs or feet have been amputated and we in the ministry are trying our best to help in whatever way we can.”

About scheme

Each of these family members (4) will be eligible for $30, which would give them a maximum of $120 per month. For a household of one (1) the amount would be $30, likewise in a family of two (2) it would be $60 while a family of three receive $90.

Apart from this monthly allowance, an additional $30 food voucher will be given to a recipient household; therefore the maximum amount that can be given to a family is $150 inclusive of the $30 food voucher.

Edited by Karalaini Waqanidrola

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