Rotary Club of New Braunfels, Canyon Lake, New Braunfels Downtown, and Savusavu provide wheelchairs and medical supplies to villages in Fiji
When most think of Fiji, they likely envision a tropical oasis in the middle of the south seas with white sand beaches, swaying coconut trees, year-round warm weather, beautiful resorts, and vibrant blue waters.
Indeed, Fiji is an incredibly beautiful place, but paradise isn’t always as it seems and as it turns out, many native Fijians live a less than glamorous, if not impoverished lifestyle.
So, when a member of the Rotary Club of Savusavu (RCSSV), Fiji Islands, Ronni Van Applebaum, who happens to have family in New Braunfels, Texas, and is friends with a member of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels (RCNB), Bill Biggadike, contacted Bill and let him know about the need for wheelchairs in Savusavu, the International Committee of the Rotary Club of New Braunfels, chaired by Norma Blackwell, rolled up their sleeves and took action.
Initially, 17 chairs were requested by RCSSV and the committee’s plan was to simply procure the chairs, have them shipped, and RCSSV would distribute them as needed. However, the committee decided to broaden the scope of the project and reached out to the Rotary Clubs of Canyon Lake and New Braunfels Downtown, requesting additional funds. Each club generously contributed $1,000 each – increasing the budget to $4,400 USD ($9,203 FJD). With the additional funds, a favorable currency exchange rate, and a surprise decrease in the cost of the wheelchairs, the committee was able to purchase 37. Ronnie Van Applebaum handled all the distribution logistics and planning from Savusavu.
Prior to the trip, RCNB member Helgard Suhr-Hollis generously donated a homemade German chocolate cake which was auctioned off at a weekly meeting to generate additional funds. The cake sold for $400, and with those additional funds, the committee purchased medical supplies including blood pressure machines, infant scales, and bandages that would be distributed to the health centers with the wheelchairs. The group also took with them baby clothes, toys, dolls, stuffed animals and candy for the children in the villages.
RCNB and International Committee members, Norma Blackwell, Bill Biggadike, and Doreen Fisher volunteered to travel to Fiji at their own expense to assist with the wheelchair distribution.
Joining them were Bill Biggadike’s wife, Penelope, and Norma Blackwell’s sister and brother-in-law, Gaby and Javier Niera. Committee member Alex Ozuna coordinated the group’s air and travel reservations, and Fisher coordinated all the group’s travel schedules and itineraries.
Upon arriving in Fiji, the RCNB volunteers teamed up with the members of the RCSSV and together they unpacked each chair from its box, added RCNB and RCSSV stickers to each, and over the next six days delivered them to the 12 remote health centers and Savusavu Hospital. Traveling to each health center required a small convoy of trucks and vans, most without air conditioning, traversing rough and bumpy dirt roads for hundreds of miles through the jungle.
Along the way, the group passed through many villages where small shelters built from scrap materials dotted the lush tropical landscape, most without electricity or running water. The villagers mostly live off the land and the sea, but many travel by bus daily to access jobs in the city centers.
Members of the RCNB found the health centers themselves to be very basic and provide only the most primary services to their patients. The open-air facilities are clean, well-organized, and professionally staffed, but lack some of the basic equipment, instruments, and supplies that even a remote health center should have. Much of their existing equipment and instruments are well used and need replacement.
According to the Asia Development Bank, about 29.9% of Fijians were under the national poverty line, equating to 258,053 of the total population, or roughly one-third. In the past 15 years, Fiji’s attempts at poverty reduction have stagnated, and Fiji continues to face significant challenges in terms of access to water and sanitation, particularly in remote and economically disadvantaged areas.
Despite the poverty in which many of the villagers live, the Rotary group was greeted with gracious hospitality from the friendly and appreciative locals. The Fijians are a proud people who are rich on tradition, and they shared and celebrated their culture with great enthusiasm with their guests.
“The stark contrast between the impoverished daily life of a typical Fijian and the tourist image of white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, and lavish resorts cannot be overstated,” said Fisher. “Fijians are happy people, but they have a great need for basic medical supplies, proper medical facilities, and working medical equipment.”
Providing basic health care is one of the seven causes of Rotary International. Rotary believes good health care is everyone’s right, yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to it. RCNB’s efforts to provide health care supplies in the remote villages of Fiji is but a small fraction of the overall need, but every project administered by clubs around the world collectively has a large impact. RCNB’s international committee has taken note and intends to continue with health care initiatives around the world.
"As we conclude our Rotary mission in Fiji, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve alongside the Rotary Club of Savusavu in distributing vital medical equipment and wheelchairs,” stated Blackwell. “Our journey has been a testament to the power of teamwork, compassion, and the transformative impact of coming together to uplift communities in need. May the echoes of our efforts continue to resonate, bringing enduring change and hope to the villages of Fiji. Our collaborative efforts epitomize the beauty of ‘Service Above Self,’ resonating with the spirit of Rotary worldwide."
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