A wild and wet start to the day but as I write there is a glimpse of sunshine. Taveuni hospital was so busy today with patients arriving from Viti Levu overnight and many escorted children. Our first hiccup late yesterday. The boat from Suva could not proceed from Savusavu for technical reasons. Our quick thinking management team (Michael Prasad) hired buses to take the patients, many of them young children, by road to the landing at Natuvu. Goundar shipping kindly delayed the Lomaiviti Princess 5 so as to accommodate our large group. It was a late night for many. Patients were eventually settled in the Wairiki parish hall. Our amazing volunteers were run off their feet keeping up with the new arrivals. We have some wonderful stories for you today and I hope you enjoy reading them.
STORIES FROM TODAY
Aseri is from Tailevu province and he travelled to Taveuni with his father and carer Miriama Dilo from Laselase village in Nadroga. He was assessed by Dr Jeff Rutgard with his team and awaits his turn now for further treatment.
Other young patients VERY excited about their trip to Taveuni, were Kesaia Raicole, Tokimi Qali, Kasamita Vakaloloma and Nabuka Rokovesa.
Lokimi is 84 years of age and still gets around his village of Raviravi (literally means “something you can lean on”) in the province of Ra. He has been a farmer all his life, growing dalo, yaqona, cassava and other cash crops. To keep an ‘eye’ on all this family he is looking forward to today’s surgery.
And here is the most incredible thing: He has 8 children, 19 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Samuela is a local Taveuni man and lives with his wife and two sons in Lovonivonu village. His wife, Siteri Udite explains: Samuela lost his legs as a result of diabetes. He had his first cataract removed yesterday and was so excited when the dressing was removed this morning he wanted to jump in the air with pleasure! He will have the cataract in his other eye removed tomorrow.
Bill really does have trouble with his eyes. Some years ago he found he had a detached retina and this has been fixed a number of times. This time around it is a cataract and he has certainly come to the right place to have it fixed. With him is one of our wonderful volunteers, Cathy Postlewaight helping with an eye test. Bill lives on Naitauba, an island in Northern Lau. He will never get better ophthalmic help than right here in Taveuni hospital.
The Daily Report
| Daily Total | Project Total | Project News |
|---|---|---|
| Cataracts 27 | Cataracts 76 | Arrivals |
| Pterygiums 3 | Pterygiums 16 | Departures |
| Others 0 | Others 11 | Special Visitors |
| Total Operations 30 | Total Operations 92 | Videos |
The Rotary Club of Taveuni, in association with Rotary clubs in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, have made the eye project for Fiji their primary goal for the year. Please visit the Rotary Club of Taveuni here and Rotary International here for more information.