Solo mum grateful for vaccination
Asilika Marama, 43, was among the happy parents after her two daughters were vaccinated yesterday. The Navesau Adventist High School parent and solo mother said when she heard about the Meningococcal outbreak in the school three weeks ago, she was worried about her daughters. “I was scared of even sending them to school because I was worried they might get infected,” she said. “It was a big issue and what worries us parents is how fast this deadly virus can kill someone who is infected.” She said she kept advising her daughters to be extra careful with what they ate and drank when they were away from home.
“Today (yesterday), I, as a parent, am so grateful to the Government and the Ministry of Health for taking out time to look at the needs of the school,” she said.
“I am so happy that my daughters are vaccinated. It’s a relief, knowing they will be safe.”
Ms Marama’s daughters are studying at Navesau Adventist: Eka Radinimatuku in Year 10 and Senimili Senikara in Year 12. “One of my daughters refused to get vaccinated, but for her own good, I had to force her,” she said.
“I told my daughter, now that the nurses are here to give vaccines, why are you refusing it because we never know what will happen.
“I am a single mother with four daughters. So I told my daughter if she gets sick, who will look after her in the hospital and who will be home to look after my other children.
“Paying bus fare from the village to get this vaccine is way cheaper than having to look for money if something happens and it will be too late.”
Ms Marama is a farmer.