Rising shipping costs challenge disability support services

The handover of Fiji’s 27th container of mobility devices yesterday renewed calls for stronger partnerships and inclusive systems to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to essential support services.

The shipment was handed over at the National Council for Disabled Persons complex in Suva through a partnership between Physionet, Fiji Mobility Device Services, and the Vodafone ATH Foundation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vodafone ATH Foundation representative Don Ravulo said the initiative was about more than delivering equipment.

“Today is not just about the container. Today is about dignity, inclusion, and shared responsibility,” he said.

The latest shipment includes wheelchairs and prosthetic devices designed to improve mobility and independence for people with disabilities across Fiji.

Mr Ravulo acknowledged growing operational challenges, particularly the steep rise in shipping costs over the past decade.

He said the cost of transporting a 40-foot container had increased from $12,000 in 2010 to $34,000 this year.

“This contradiction tells us that the challenge is no longer technology, but compassion and the systems through which we deliver support,” Mr Ravulo said.

Despite these pressures, Mr Ravulo reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving accessibility and support services.

He said Fiji needed to adopt more proactive and sustainable approaches to disability support, including digital systems that improve transparency and service delivery.

Mr Ravulo also called for greater collaboration among government agencies, businesses, community groups, and youth to help create a more accessible and inclusive society.

“Now is the time to work together in synergy,” he said, calling on students and innovators to help design smarter, more sustainable mobility solutions.