Fiji would have been in dire straits without the help of Australia and New Zealand – Bainimarama

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji would have been in dire straits without the help Australia and New Zealand have given us.

He made these comments while farewelling the Alpha Australia New Zealand Medical Assistance Team and welcoming the Bravo team.

The Bravo team which arrived in the country last night has brought 3 fully equipped ambulances, 2,000kg of Personal Protective Equipment and medical supplies, 50 stretcher beds and 20 Oxygen concentrators.

Bainimarama says they have used military terminology to describe our campaign against COVID-19.

He says the use of the language was deliberate because this has always felt like a war.

Bainimarama says it is a war that we intend to win and a war we must win.

He adds a country needs allies, friendly neighbours who share their resources and their knowledge with us in solidarity so that we can confront a common enemy.

The Prime Minister says the COVID-19 virus is very much a common enemy and the two countries have been our great friends and allies, as we have fought this virus.

The Prime Minister adds our thoughts are with Australia who are combating an outbreak of the virus in New South Wales.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes says by Saturday, Australia will have delivered 450,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines and by this time next week, they would have delivered 550,000 doses.

He says he hopes that in the first week of August they will have another 300,000 vaccines arriving in Fiji.

Feakes also commended all of Fiji's frontline staff, and the leadership of the Health Ministry for putting their lives on the line, day in and day out.

New Zealand High Commissioner to Fiji, Jonathan Curr says the ANZMAT teams symbolizes the strength of the relationship between Fiji, New Zealand and Australia and it symbolizes the effectiveness of the trilateral partnership that the three have.

He says it symbolizes their commitment to work together to combat the current COVID-19 outbreak and it symbolises the hope and the confidence they have that together, we will beat this.

He also acknowledged Doctor James Fong and the Ministry of Health team and all parties involved in facilitating the MAT team.

Curr add that he is acutely aware that ANZMAT teams might come and go but Dr.Fong and his colleagues will be staying to continue that fight, which won't end for them until the job is done.