More support pours in for supply of oxygen for children who need it

More support has been received to ensure that no child dies from lack of oxygen through the donation of over $69,000.

Earlier this year 4 cyclists, led by Reuben Tucker, travelled 1,000 kilometres by bike trekking through rugged terrain of New Zealand’s North Island for 8 days in the ANZ Tasman to Pacific 1000, $69,306 in funds for the Fiji Oxygen Project which benefits thousands of Fijians and their families.

ANZ Fiji Country Head, Rabih Yazbek says these funds will be used for the installation and operation of oxygen operators.

Yazbek highlighted that the oxygen project assisted 22,500 patients in Fiji since 2017 adding that this has became crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic providing oxygen to more than 600 children in 2021 alone.

Fiji Oxygen Project Lead, Dr Gyan Prasad says these funds will support Cure Kids’ Fiji Oxygen Project in partnership with the Ministry of Health to improve access to oxygen for patients throughout Fiji needing treatment for respiratory symptoms including COVID.

Dr Prasad says the project supports the procurement and deployment of oxygen equipment and consumables to meet the most urgent needs for oxygen and respiratory therapy, and for health centres with unreliable power supplies, solar power is installed to ensure that a 24/7 supply of oxygen is available for patients who need it.