18 December, 2025, 10:47 pm Central - 23°C Clouds

Organisers of Friendly North Festival aims to upgrade dialysis centre in Labasa after collecting more than $200,000
Miss Apex Enterprises crowned Queen at Friendly North Festival

Organisers of Friendly North Festival aims to upgrade dialysis centre in Labasa after collecting more than $200,000

Miss Apex Enterprises crowned Queen at Friendly North Festival

The dialysis centre at the Labasa Hospital is expected to have a new look as the organisers of the 2022 Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North have made it their goal to improve these services for the people of the North.

The Organising Committee says they collected $267,203.85 during the week-long festival, and the majority of the funds will go to the upgrade of the dialysis centre.

They say the hospital started with a few machines, but now with the increase in the number of people who need dialysis, they are going to increase the number of machines for people coming for dialysis treatment.

Speaking at the crowning ceremony, Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar says it is great that after a lapse of two years festivals are back in Fiji.

She says it was the decisive action of the Prime Minister in tackling COVID-19 that has created this normalcy which we all wanted or look forward to.

Kumar says this festival connects and brings people from various works of life, and also assists families in earning a living.

She adds the Friendly North festival also provides a platform for the Queen contestants to build their confidence, showcase their talent and advocate for national issues.

Miss Apex Enterprises Debra Mauritz was crowned the Queen of the Friendly North Festival 2022.

Miss Fiji Sugar Corporation Mere Wainiqolo was the 1st runner-up and she also won the Miss Charity title.

Miss Apco Coatings Litia Bola was the 2nd Runner-up, and she also took home the Miss Personality title.

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