Four all-terrain ambulances donated by St John NZ to St. John Fiji have arrived in the country

The four all-terrain ambulances donated by St John New Zealand to St. John Association of Fiji have arrived in the country.

These additional emergency vehicles will assist St John Fiji first responders to attend quickly to community calls and help transport the sick to medical facilities with increasing severe COVID cases in the Central and Western Divisions.

On behalf of St John New Zealand, High Commissioner Jonathan Curr handed over the fleet of ambulances, medical equipment and Personal Protective Equipment valued at $490,000 to the St John Council representative and RFMF Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto and CEO of St John Fiji Emma Bovoro.

The shipment also included essential supplies such as stretchers, gowns, surgical masks, gloves, wipes, sanitiser and N95 masks.

Curr says support to frontline workers has been a key feature of New Zealand’s support.

He says this has included over FJD$1 million to first response teams, including the provision of rental vehicles and communications equipment for immediate use while they work with in country partners to convert and fully equip another four vehicles to be added to the Ministry of Health’s first response fleet; and assisting with logistics and transport to ensure this incredibly worthy donation from St John New Zealand could reach the St John Team here in Fiji.

Curr also says they are completely in awe of the commitment and efforts of St John Fiji and the first response teams.

He says they are the ones who get the calls in critical times of need, the ones who work all hours, and the ones who make incredible personal sacrifice in the name of community service and duty to their fellow Fijian.