The Fiji Oxygen Project has been a breath of fresh air after $35,000 was handed over to Cure Kids Fiji, which administers the project that ensures that no child dies from lack of oxygen.

This is the third year in a row that the Project Bula Mai committee, which organises the Style Fiji Event, handed over the money.

This is done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and leading paediatric technical experts.

The money will enable Cure Kids to deliver new ways of improving the availability, affordability and clinical use of oxygen to save lives.

Cure Kids Fiji general manager Tim Edmonds said, “Life-saving oxygen is often not available for patients when they need it.

“Since then we have addressed this by providing hospitals and health centres with reliable oxygen concentrator systems.

“No child, no person, should die for lack of oxygen.”

He said the project replaced oxygen cylinders in health centres – which were expensive, logistically difficult and often resulted in unreliable oxygen supplies – with bedside oxygen concentrators.

For health centres with unreliable power supplies a custom-designed solar power system is installed to ensure that a 24/7 supply of oxygen is available for patients who need it.

Support from the 2017 Style Fiji event allowed the Fiji Oxygen Project to be extended to Nabouwalu Hospital and Taveuni Hospital.

Funds raised from the 2017 event will help the Oxygen Project reach an additional three health centres by June next year.

Chairman Adrian Sofield said, “Project Bula Mai supports all demographics of our community – children, the aged, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, our employees, our families and our workplaces.

“We also support health-related organisations that provide emergency services to those industries essential to our economy including tourism, aviation & marine.

“Style Fiji 2017 exceeded expectations and delivered a spectacular night of fashion and entertainment.”

Project Bula Mai, the charitable group behind the annual Style Fiji event, which is an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to showcase their skills in the fashion arena, aims to continue with the project.

Each year, project Bula Mai hosts the Style Fiji fashion Entertainment extravaganza.

Since the first style Fiji function in 2011, PBM has contributed more than 800,000 (including more than $500,000 to Nadi Hospital in equipment and to projects in the community).

In 2016 they raised $35000 to assist Cure Kids to provide reliable oxygen suppliers to Fiji hospitals and health centres. PBM again supported CKF with a further donation of $35,000 in 2017.

Mr Sofield confirmed that the Style Fiji 2018 premier event with a Bollywood theme be held on December 1.

The event in the Nadi charity calendar is dubbed the Western Division’s most glamorous fundraising function.

Edited by Epineri Vula