Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says cancer is the third leading cause of death in Fiji.

He says the types of childhood cancer that WOWS (Walk On Walk Strong) deals with – are leukemia, brain, and bone cancer – these can be especially devastating.

Mr Bainimarama made the remarks at the Black Tie Charity Ball in Sydney, Australia on Friday night.

This year alone he said, WOWS Kids supported 63 children in Fiji, spending an average of $9000 per child each month to provide transportation, treatment, and medical supplies.

He said WOWS also assisted in ways that went beyond the hospital by helping with some costs of treatment, accommodation for children and their families, and phone card top-ups that allow them to stay in constant contact with their doctors and WOWS support team.

He said with the generosity of many who gathered at the ball, the beneficiary of the event, WOWS Kids Fiji, would be able to help more of Fiji’s children to ‘Walk On Walk Strong.’

“With your generosity, WOWS will be able to help more children move on and live positive lives, achieve their dreams, and find the strength to overcome any difficulties along the way,” Mr Bainimarama said.

He said WOWS Kids Fiji was dedicated to assisting children with cancer in Fiji, and supporting their families as they dealt with the physical, emotional, and financial toll that the disease so often took.

“When coping with the harsh reality of cancer, especially children’s cancer, it’s difficult for patients and their caretakers to go at it alone; this is why WOWS has stepped forward to offer help when it’s needed most.

“My Government, through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, shares WOWS’ commitment to easing the burden of cancer and supporting families.”

In 2016, the Ministry of Health, with the Fiji Cancer Society and WOWs Kids, signed the World Cancer Declaration, with the goal of reducing the preventable mortality rate of cancer patients in Fiji.

Mr Bainimarama added that the Minister for Health shared a statistic that gave him great hope.

“In just the past five years, the survival rate of common childhood cancers had more than doubled in Fiji.

“This progress would not be possible without the combined efforts of the Government, organisations like WOWS Kids, and supporters.”

The event doubled as Fiji Day celebrations.

Mr Bainimarama said Fijians in Australia were great ambassadors of Fiji to the Australian community.

He said he loved being surrounded by so many Fijians and friends of Fiji and they made him feel at home even though he was far from Suva.

“You put Fiji’s best foot forward. Every smiling face in this room is a representation of Fiji’s finest,” he said.

He said after traveling from Canada and the United States he returned to Fiji where the national Fiji Day celebrations in the Western Division was held for the first time.

“Australia is now my fourth country in which I’ve spent Fiji Day this year. And that fact is quite a testament to the global reach of our diaspora community.

“Each celebration has been unique and special in its own way yet all have shared the same feeling of being united as one Fijian family.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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