Good work from Spinal Injury Association's Mobility Device Service team :) This cot was made for one of the little boys at Hilton Special School using equipment from the MDS wheelchair unit
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The Spinal Injury Association of Fiji (SIA) is proud to announce that we will host All Black and Sevens Legend Eric Rush as guest speaker for our Gala Fundraising Dinner on October 11th. This will be one of the most high-profile events in Fiji this year and we are offering business and individual the opportunity to be involved through sponsorship. The evening will be hosted by several prominent citizens including the former President of Fiji Sir Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. Ratu Epeli is very aware of the amazing support that the Spinal Injury Association gives to the many spinal injuries and related disabilities on their books and he has enthusiastically supported the holding of this gala night. For more information go to our website at: http://spinalinjuryfiji.weebly.com/sia-gala-event.html The SIA’s own Mere Rodan and Luisa Mana recently attended the Fiji Women’s Parliament, involving 50 women participants from around Fiji, who have actively engaged within their communities.
The women are all pioneers of key programs and came together at the Parliament to contribute towards gaining valuable information for addressing individual/collective issues which affect the lives of other women from their communities. Lisa and Mere were two of three women from the disability community who had the privilege of being included in this event. The only word that echo in my head was ''thank you thank you thank you for remembering me".....this was the kind word from 84 yr old Katioa Nakibae whom we pay a surprise visit too on Tuesday. According to his lovely son who helped us around this beautiful village of Buakonikai...."shes a very hardworking woman who does not want to see any of us(her children) sitting idly doing nothing in our home, her voice echoes in our home everyday which now we really missed after her illness'. I believe exactly what he says when SIA team entered her home,she started yelling out to her kids to bring us drinks. I warmly explain to her that we are there because of her,visiting her with a small gift (sanitary pack including diapers,towels,soap)our organization send us out to deliver reminding them that we still do remember and care for them. For Spinal Injury Association its members and People with Disabilities is our "1st Priority" Hundreds of disabled children took part in a sports day organised by CEACOSIE (Central Eastern Council of Special and Inclusive Educators) at the National Gymnasium today (22/7/16). The event brought together the students of eight special needs schools in the region for a day of fun sporting activities. Among the students were several whose lives have been transformed after being provided with wheelchairs under the Mobility Device Service (MDS), an initiative of the Spinal Injury Association of Fiji (SIA). Vika Cagilevu, mother of one of the students, nine-year old Talei, said: “Before Talei received her wheelchair five years ago, she could only crawl to get around. She couldn’t feed herself and only stayed inside the house so she had no friends and did not attend school. “Since being fitted with a wheelchair by SIA it is so much easier for me to take her around. The chair has helped her sitting posture and she can feed herself. Now she can get outside and play with all the other kids at school. She has been provided with a walker too, which she uses to get around.” Sashi, aunt of Yash, 13, who has cerebral palsy added: “Before we heard about SIA through Hilton Special School, Yash just had a normal wooden chair that was too small for him, and he was not able to feed himself. It was not a proper chair for him. “Now he can eat by himself and his posture has really improved which is important as he is still growing. He is going for a reassessment with SIA soon to fit him with a bigger chair – we are very happy about that.” Joshko Wakaniyasi, Executive Director of Spinal Injuries Association, said of the scheme: “These stories really demonstrate the difference that proper assessment of wheelchair users needs and proper fitting of chairs by trained professionals can make. “Since the MDS scheme started back in 2009 the demand for our services – from children and adults alike – has grown incredibly. We have been fortunate to have great support from donors such as PhysioNet UK and Vodafone, as well as Motivation Australia who have trained our therapy staff. But if we are to meet the demand and continue to change the lives of people like Talei and Yash we need continued support from the public and private sectors.” |
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