Taveuni is famous for its sunshine, warm waters, and picture-perfect scenery. Not to mention what is probably the world’s best display of soft coral. But today was not so beautiful with leaden skies and a cooler breeze. In no way did this affect the challenging work going on at the Taveuni hospital. Dozens of patients waiting to see if their eyesight had improved while others were quietly waiting their turn in the operating theatre.
Patient Stories from Today:
This is Josephine (Joey) Korovata, head chef and kitchen controller. With many years of experience, she produces healthy, delicious meals daily for staff and patients. Before we get to the personal stories today let us look at a vital but often not well recognised part of the eye project. The preparation of meals for the hundreds of surgical eye patients and the hard-working medical staff. Joey has been volunteering to lead this task for fifteen years. Tonnes of locally donated and purchased fruit and vegetables are turned into breakfast, lunch and dinner. All done in a tiny space with Joey’s band of willing helpers. The picture below is of some of her band of helpers and the food.
Waime Esialia Kalougata works for the Ministry of Agriculture in the offices at the Nassau Government Station on Koro Island. He is passionate about his job, making every effort to encourage the farmers of Koro to produce the best organic food possible. Absolutely no introduced fertilisers are permitted, and it is hoped that the produce from Koro will be famous throughout the world for its organic quality. His wife Ana Kalougata works in Suva for the Department of Heritage. They have 1 boy and 1 girl. His surgery will be this afternoon.
Esalia was able to tell me some interesting statistics you may be interested in:
- 3864 people live on Koro Island
- 860 Households
- 7 primary schools
- 1 secondary school
Esalia is very keen to produce perfect organic pineapples on the island with no artificial fertiliser and using local compost. Koro is visited each week by the ‘Lomaiviti Princess’, one of the Gounder ferries. And did you know Mr Gounder was born on Koro Island?
Apenisa Waqalevu Koto come from Kade village on Koro. He lives with his brother and sister and was educated at the village primary school and then at the Koro Island secondary school. Unfortunately, Apenisa also suffers from asthma and together with his poor eyesight it has been difficult to live a normal lifestyle. However, today will mark a turning point in his life as his cataract will be removed. We wish him well in his future life.
Peni Salele was born on Vanua Levu in Nawi village. He is married to Maria who comes from Taveuni. They met Holy Cross secondary school on Taveuni. They have 5 boys and 3 girls, the eldest girl is a primary school teach in the Yasawa group and the eldest boy graduates this year as a secondary school teacher and will teach PE, music, and art.
Peni has been teaching history and geography at the government secondary school Bucalevu High school. He teaches year 12 and he has been at Bucalevu for ten years. Next year he is transferring to Vanua Levu. He developed a pterygium in his left eye, and it will be attended to today. He and his family live in the teacher’s compound at the school.
Nuvia Drokadroka was born on Gau Island in the Lomaiviti group, and she married Hortico from Koro. They live in Siunvaca village on Koro Island. She has a cataract in one eye that will be looked after today.
She visits her sister on Taveuni regularly
Sera Tupou we found resting in the dormitory in the old hospital. She was revelling in being able to read her bible and the picture here shows her reading Proverbs. She was simply not able to read for many years until this morning, following her surgery yesterday. She comes from Nassau on Koro Island where she has lived for all of her 75 years. She is going home by boat on Sunday and has such a wonderful smile! We wish her well for the future.
Spencer Tarte is a very well-known identity on Taveuni. One of the famous Tarte family who have lived for generations in the south of the island. The family grow the famous beef cattle that Taveuni has become known for all over the Pacific. They first came to Taveuni as cotton farmers in 1871. Spencer will not mind me telling you he is 92 years of age and I enjoyed chatting to him about times past. A great representative of our beautiful island. He is pictured here having his pre-surgery checks with one of our highly skilled eye doctors.
Finally for today’s report, here are some interesting statistics gathered by our ‘numbers’ expert Helene Brown. These figures show the figures for surgery at the eye project up until yesterday.
Statistics:
