Critical medicines and medical support provided to Tonga through 'Ofa Atu Tonga fund raiser
Yesterday medical supplies and equipment were packed by players from the Moana Pasifika rugby team into a shipping container destined for Tonga.
The container will be met by a team from Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) who were deployed on Wednesday 30 March to provide on the ground medical assistance, primarily mental health support through a team of specialists who can engage directly with those traumatised by the recent natural disasters as well as the current Covid-19 outbreak.
The PMA team in partnership with the respective governments of Tonga and New Zealand are working closely together to ensure that the medical supplies purchased through the donations from Moana Pasifika’s fundraising efforts are received by the local hospitals to be used on the affected communities.
Moana Pasifika’s fundraiser ‘Ofa Atu Tonga - With Love Tonga’ kicked off on 4 February at their pre-season game against the Chiefs and raised more than $75,000 for the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Donations were received from 10,227 people from across Aotearoa and the globe including Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and USA, along with messages of support.
Moana Pasifika Trust chair La'auli Savae Sir Michael Jones says,
“The generosity of support has been overwhelming. Moana Pasifika would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who showed the spirit of compassion and who donated generously”.
Chief Surgeon Specialist at Ministry of Health in Tonga and PMA Patron Lord Tangi o Vaonukonuka (FRACS) expressed his gratitude for the donation of medical supplies saying
“We are grateful for the container of donated medical supplies and acknowledge the wonderful contribution made by the Moana Pasifika Rugby Team through their fundraising campaign.
“The money raised has been able to secure vital medical equipment and medicines which will be distributed to hospitals across Tonga including the main hospital on Nuku’Alofa, Vaiola Hospital, and Ha’apai’s hospital, the Princess Fusipala Hospital.”
In addition to the generous donations by the public to Ofa Atu Tonga, the fundraiser was supported by broadcast partners Sky, their team donating their time and energy to air the game.
Our thanks also to the team at Pacific Media Network (PMN) who broadcasted the game for the first time in the Tongan language.
The text messaging service was made possible by the generosity of every telco provider in New Zealand and was facilitated with the support and kind help of the Modica Group.
The container and shipping to Tonga has been kindly donated by Matson Shipping.
-
Via Moana Pasifika media release