Dr James Fong, Vasiti Soko – Our Top Two of The Year
In the midst of chaos, they were the voice of reason.
Their friendly yet confident demeanour comforted Fijians in the middle of crisis.
They are Vasiti Soko, the Director for National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Dr James Fong, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
They are the Fiji Sun’s People of the Year 2021.
DR JAMES FONG
Medical professionals have described him as a man with a deeply embedded passion for the job. Dr James Fong became a household name.
He has been the face and the voice of the country’s COVID-19 battle in what has been termed by medical personnels as one of the most challenging years for Fiji’s health system.
His line minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete has described him as an intelligent and well-read individual, someone who is always keen to know more.
Originally from Nabubu Village in Namuka, Macuata with maternal links to Dogotuki, Macuata in Vanua Levu, Dr Fong said though 2021 has been a difficult year, it had been illuminating at the same time.
“The team has had to rediscover and sustain a stronger and more functional public health capability that allows rapid, timely and proportionate implementation of escalated public measures,” Dr Fong said.
“The medical team and all those who have stepped forward to the frontline have been tireless and patient during this difficult time.
“Despite occasional setbacks, our data indicate that many lives were saved and much suffering prevented.”
He said the whole team has weathered criticism of the best and worst kind; they have accepted praises with grace and the occasional shortcomings have been more than compensated for by their tireless and patient effort.
“At a personal level, I have had no chance to do anything but to push forward. Moments of self-doubt have been mitigated by family support. My wife, my son and family have been my backbone and my inspiration,” Dr Fong said.
“I have to make special mention of the backend front liners who made it work for all of us; the drivers, the corporate staff, the logistic teams, the warehouse team, the RFMF personnel, the volunteers, including all public servants from other government ministries and agencies who were part of the integrated government approach conducting outreach work across Fiji.”
VASITI SOKO
Ms Soko has seen the worst of cyclones but the 37-year-old Natokalau, Matuku, Lau native believes that resilience always wins.
She said noticing the resilience of vulnerable Fijians after a disaster drove her and her team to do the work that they do.
For her and her team, they spend hours working trying to assure Fijians affected by natural disasters that ‘everything will be okay’.
“Since my time here, I’m always humbled and grateful for the strong foundation of resilience that we have. I’ve seen the worst of cyclones, but resilience always wins,” she said.
She said in the course of a natural disaster, there were times where she had little to no sleep at all in doing her work.
“Sometimes a bite of biscuit is what fuels me for the whole day during an emergency situation. It is usually meetings after meetings to better coordinate our response efforts during disaster operations.
“I have been here since 2019 and no experience is dull. We are 24/7 on the move in prepositioning our plans and materials to better manage disasters. It is exciting and very rewarding to be working in a place where you take ‘hope’ down to the community level when there is little to no hope at all. It is an honour to serve the people of Fiji.”
Earlier in 2021, she was awarded the Women’s International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Award.
She had to compete with nine finalists who were women leaders in their own work from Pakistan, Philippines, India, Japan and Bangladesh.
“The fact that I got the award shows the great support system that I have. The God I serve is great and it is through His grace and mercy that I’m able to do the work that I do now,” she said.
“I would like to thank my husband and four children, my father for being there for us, especially for me after my mother passed away recently. Upon receiving the award, I had dedicated it to my late mother, Adi Letila Soko.
“It was because of her strong resilience to defying odds and breaking glass ceilings that I’m able to groom myself into the woman that I am today.”
Her message going into the New Year is: “Never give up. If you need a break, take it. But never give up what you have set to achieve in the New Year. With God everything is possible, but you need to work on faith so stay focused on the goal and remain positive.”
Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj
