Warwick Hotels boost NCD awareness in Coral Coast
In bid to fight against non-communicable diseases (NCD), the first educational awareness programme was launched at the Coral Coast on Wednesday. The programme was held at the Korolevu Health Centre and was made possible through the contribution of the Warwick Hotels and Resorts in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the Sigatoka Hospital. Naviti Resort General Manager John Duxbury said that the involvement of both Naviti Resort and The Warwick Fiji played an important role in the community. “We play an important role in the assistance to the Korolevu Health Centre and continues the substantial aid that both properties have given over the last few years,” he said. “Whilst we have supported the local communities and in particular the Sigatoka Hospital over the years, our focus is now set on continuing to heavily concentrate on those villages and communities in the Tikina Korolevu-i-wai and Tikina O Komave area that sometime struggle for financial and resource support.”
The properties assist by providing transport, multimedia, catering and marquees for the medical teams. Warwick Hotels and Resort Community Liaison Officer Mereisi Togakai said that over 150 villagers from the Korolevu corridor attended the programme to be educated on issues such as nutrition, rehabilitation exercise and self-care. “This was designed to target those in the communities that suffered from NCD related illnesses in particular disable persons and to also caution others on the real dangers of NCD’s,” she said. Health Centre’s Dr Elizabeth Dass said that this programme had been a tremendous success. “This is with the large numbers that had showed up and the level of engagement from the community and the medical teams present,” Dr Dass said. The Sigatoka hospital medical team present include senior eye nurse Marica Ratubuli, dietician Arti Devi, physiotherapist Namratha Narayan, peer educator Laisana Rakula and medical interns.
She said as a result several instant referrals had been made for those suffering from eye problems.