Kids Fun Centre Opening Part of HFC’s Social Responsibility
Anew Kids Fun Centre outside the Lautoka Hospital Children’s Ward was opened by HFC Bank yesterday.
This was part of its corporate social responsibility towards communities in need.
Lautoka Hospital Pediatric Registrar, Doctor Ashwin Sundar. said: “We get a lot of patients for example in 2018 the Children’s Ward had 2176 admissions from all over the West and last year we had 2117 admissions.
He said there were children at the Lautoka Hospital who had been refered from the Rakiraki or Sigatoka subdivision.
“In 2018 we had 897 children from subdivisions spending most of the time in hospital and 2019 there were 943 children here and the hospital becomes a stressful environment for anyone,” he said.
“I think with this centre we can all realise it will be beneficial to these kids. They might be looking forward after the stressful procedure to come here, some of them who can’t go home can have a bit of time to play.”
Meanwhile, HFC Bank Head of Business Banking West, Vandhana Sharma, said the centre was worth more than $20,000. It took two months to complete.
The centre would ease the childrens discomfort of being away from their homes.
“We have a dedicated work committee which is responsible in identifying areas in need of assistance and where HFC can assist,” she said.
“Some months ago this team identified the need for a Kid’s Fun Centre at the Lautoka Hospital. Since then they have worked passionately with the contractors and the suppliers, organising book drives to bring to you the first kids fun centre for the Lautoka Hospital.”