The co-founders of WOWS Kids Fiji, Mr. Taholo Kami and Mrs. Sina Kami;
WOWS Trustees and Board of Directors;
Head of Department of the Pediatric Unit, Dr. Ilisapeci Tuibeqa
Staff of the Pediatric Oncology Unit;
Representatives from our development partners (NZ & Australia High Commissioners)
Parents and children; and
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.
I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to ‘WOWS Kids Fiji’ for inviting me to launch the “2023 Fiji Childhood Cancer Awareness Month”.
First and foremost, as a parent who knows well the up’s and down’s of bringing up children with the eternal hope that good health and opportunities for their growth — and in time grandchildren — continues the blessed cycle of life, there are simply not enough words to express how grateful and lucky we are in Fiji to have an organisation like ‘WOWS Kids Fiji’ — to stand in the gap providing a very necessary bridge between our young patients, and the hospitals.
Not only do they help to save young lives, but ‘WOWS Kids Fiji’ also provides a much-needed source of refuge, support and strength to parents and families of young cancer patients.
As we all know from our own experiences of ill-health — there is nothing like a network of other parents and families identifying, supporting, and praying with each other — during these trying times, that helps to lift spirits that are down or trying to put on a brave face.
This annual event honors the brave, young lives that have left us way too soon, as well as the bold young survivors who battle with chronic health challenges.
It is also a time to celebrate the progress made in treatment and recovery.
I feel a profound sense of humility and respect that I can be here this year to commemorate such a very personal moment.
I am certain that as parents, we can and must commit to fighting this disease, using whatever sphere of influence we may have, so that all children of Fiji can have an opportunity to live a full and wholesome life.
As much as it pains me to say this, the gripping reality, I am advised, is that about one in two of these children diagnosed with cancer is most likely to die.
Despite the 80 percent survival rate of childhood cancers in developed countries, up to 80 percent of cancer-stricken children in developing countries die due to the lack of proper medical care and lack of information, on the available resources and services provided.
In Fiji, the most common childhood cancer is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, followed by brain tumor, which is similar to the global trend of childhood cancer. In Fiji, we sadly lose on average of 20 pediatric oncology patients each year.
It is thus essential that creating awareness on childhood cancer should be everyone’s responsibility.
The Coalition government is convinced that refocusing our health services on Public Health Care is critical to building better resilience in our healthcare systems, by directly tackling the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) scourge which is the number one cause of premature death in our country — while we try to instill a culture of wellness and good health in Fiji.
This is why the Coalition Government allocated through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services a total budget of $453.7 million, a significant increase of $58.6 million from last year.
Of this, a budget of $8.0 million alone is allocated towards the strengthening of Public Health Services — with specific approaches aimed at increasing preventative and primary health care outcomes, by expanding outreach programmes, expanding community engagement initiatives, and improving continuum of care — with enhanced quality and safety standards at our health facilities.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services through its very welcome and strategic ‘Wellness Concept’, will continue to advocate for, and create awareness on cancer prevention and control programmes.
The Coalition Government has allocated a total of $655,000 for outreach and awareness programmes alone in the 2023-2024 Budget for various public health programmes. This is an increase of $171,500 from the last financial year.
Cancer has become a global scourge affecting people of all ages, and we understand that taking the fight to fundamental impacts such as Non-Communicable Diseases, will not be easy, and it may take years to be able to measure progress — but it must move quickly. Many years have been wasted already, focussing on controlling the impacts in a half-hearted manner, rather than taking decisive steps to prevent it.
Therefore, the Coalition Government will continue to partner with WOWS Kids Fiji’ through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Paediatric Oncology Units at CWM Hospital and Lautoka Hospital, the Fiji Cancer Society, and the National Paediatric Oncology Committee — towards combating this disease.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot overemphasize this enough — the Coalition Government is firmly behind this important campaign.
I understand that Fiji also receives children from other Pacific Island countries for cancer treatment in Fiji, and that altogether, we are currently supporting 82 children whose ages range from 5 months to 18 years old — and that they are geographically dispersed around Fiji.
This too is not an easy task, but I commend again, ‘WOWS Kids Fiji’ for all that you do for our children diagnosed with cancer, and their families.
I also want to acknowledge our gratitude and thanks to our development partners from the Australian and New Zealand Government, for their tremendous support.
And finally the most important people whose shoulders do the heavy lifting, I want to gratefully acknowledge the children, their families, the volunteers and their communities for their love and care of our young champions.
In fact, let me ask them all to stand up so that we can all give them a round of applause!
Ladies and gentlemen, in closing let me urge every one of us to continue to advocate harder and louder so that our young patients get the best healthcare support that they need. You can count on my voice as an advocate.
It is my fervent prayer that one day soon, a cure for this disease will be found. Please allow me also to strongly encourage all the medical minds in Fiji to do what you can, to help advance the global research and science towards the cure.
We must — Walk On and Walk Strong, Together.
Thank you very much.