NZ Govt to provide $1.45M to Fiji Red Cross Society

The New Zealand Government has announced a contribution of $1.45million to the Fiji Red Cross Society’s COVID-19 response plans.

New Zealand's High Commissioner to Fiji, Jonathan Curr confirms the funding would be channelled through the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Global Appeal for COVID-19 to support COVID-19 operations.

He says Fiji Red Cross Society is an important humanitarian agency that plays an integral role in supporting local authorities to respond to the challenges brought by the pandemic.

Curr says they have seen the members and volunteers of Fiji Red Cross Society working tirelessly to support operations in hospitals, vaccination sites and communities and this funding will further strengthen their ongoing response.

He says the funding will enable Fiji Red Cross Society to divert more resources towards supporting the Ministry of Health with its vaccine rollout, blood donations and training of volunteers for community surveillance and home-based care.

Currently, there are more than 200 Red Cross volunteers on the ground and with this funding. more volunteers will now be deployed to vaccination sites to support the ongoing vaccine rollout.

Fiji Red Cross Society Director-General, Ilisapeci Rokotunidau says their volunteers have been working to help those most at risk to get access to the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine.

She says it is critical that we get as many Fijians, vaccinated as possible if we want to beat this virus.