Good Samaritans Supply Medical Gear For Fijians In Need
The delivery included 375 pair of crutches, 200 walking canes, 100 wheelchairs, and seven specialised chairs for kids, boxes of medical consumables, grab rails to be used in washrooms and 80 Quadra pods.
Friday 06 March 2020 | 01:36
Standing from left: ASP Randhir Prasad, Director Social Welfare Rupeni Fatiaki, Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation executive Ambalika Kutty, British High Commission Suva Head of Policy and Multilateral Dominic Rhodes and Anglican Church of Fiji representative Reverend Amy Chambers. Seated front from left: Spinal Injury Association of Fiji executive director Joshko Wakaniyasi and Pauliasi Seru. Photo: Inoke Rabonu
The Spinal Injury Association of Fiji yesterday received more than $1 million worth of mobility equipment as part of Physio Net United Kingdom’s 16th consignment to the association.
The handover was done at the Fiji Disability Centre office in Suva yesterday.
The delivery included 375 pair of crutches, 200 walking canes, 100 wheelchairs, and seven specialised chairs for kids, boxes of medical consumables, grab rails to be used in washrooms and 80 Quadra pods.
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Spinal Injury Association of Fiji executive director Joshko Wakaniyasi said the association was grateful for the tremendous help by the UK association over the years.
He said close to a hundred people living with disabilities were in need of mobility appliances each week.
“This was not only from people born with disabilities but from the number of people who have had leg amputations, stroke patients and those who are old. If you look at the statistics that has been verified by the health ministry, there is one amputation every eight hours, that is three amputations per day and 21 per week,” Mr Wakaniyasi said.
He said the high cost of the equipment also contributed to the high demand for these equipments.
“It’s not only wheelchairs, but we are using it as an example because of the cost associated with wheelchairs,” Mr Wakaniyasi said.
“We also have to consider the terrain that we live in, some of this equipment might not last because of our terrain.
“What we do is educate the users. Most people living with disabilities rely on wheelchairs on a long term.”
He said they also received 20 wheelchairs from the Anglican Mission from New Zealand last week.
He said all items that had just arrived have all been accounted for.
The 17th consignment from the UK will arrive in April.
Meanwhile, the Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation also donated $20,000 to the Fiji Spinal Injury Association yesterday.
Vodafone ATH Fiji Foundation executive Ambalika Kutty said they had always helped the Spinal Injury Association in terms of providing grants for its operations.
Edited by Caroline Ratucadra
Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj
