GLOBAL CHARITIES OFFER RELIEF
FAMILIES WITH SICK CHILDREN FIND COMFORT AND SUPPORT AT RONALD MCDONALD ROOM, HOUSE Tailored to meet the urgent needs of each community, Fiji is proud to be among the 62 countries and regions across the globe that help provide vital resources and compassionate care to children and their families through core RMHC programmes.
They enable and facilitate familycentered care to families with ill or injured children through the Ronald McDonald Family Room at the Colonial War Memorial hospital and through the Ronald McDonald House in Labasa.
Since 1974, the RMHC network of chapters has helped millions of families with sick children find comfort and support when they need it most. Tailored to meet the urgent needs of each community, Fiji is proud to be among the 62 countries and regions across the globe that help provide vital resources and compassionate care to children and their families through core RMHC programmes.
Work done in Fiji
RMHC Fiji, was established in January 2015.
The Ronald McDonald Family Room opened at the Colonial Memorial Hospital in August 2018 and has served more than 11,000 families.
The room is open daily from 7am to 10pm with four staff members.
It features a lounge/rest area where families can spend quiet times including recliners if they wanted to take a nap.
A kitchenette with a microwave, fridge and tea, coffee, cocoa and sandwiches are served without any charge.
There is a dining area with a television and a children’s play area.
The laundry facilities including a washing machine and dryer has also been popular with our families.
On March 15, 2022, RMHC Fiji opened its new programme the Ronald McDonald House at the Labasa Hospital.
The 11-bedroom fully furnished house serves as a place for families to
stay in while their seriously ill child is undergoing medical treatment at the hospital.
The house complete with a kitchen, lounge area, play area, laundry facilities and hot water
bathroom facilities, accommodates families from all provinces of Vanua Levu and surrounding islands at no cost.
The house has since provided 3400 nights of accommodation for more than 1700 families.
Free Service
RMHC Fiji leader, Vere Wong said families who used their facilities did not pay for meals or accommodation. “Many travel long distances and don’t have relatives near the main hospitals,” Ms Wong said.
“Most families who come to hospital with a seriously ill or injured child are often not prepared and to be able to provide them with the basics of home is a welcome relief for many.”
As a charitable organisation, RMHC relies on donors and fundraising to consistently operate its programmes. “McDonald’s our founding mission partner, is our leading donor,” she said. A certain portion from every happy meal sold from McDonald’s together with a portion from every bottled water sold goes towards RMHC. Additionally coin boxes at McDonald’s restaurants have also been a great way that customers at McDonald’s can donate to RMHC.
Donors such as Extra Supermarket, Turners & Growers, Rentokil Initial, Essity, Ecolab,
Maraiwai Store, RB Patel, Lala’s Store, Portion Pak, Digicel, Frezco Beverages & Fiji Water foundation continue to support their programmes through in-kind support.
Fundraising such as golf tournaments and the sale of paper hands at McDonald’s have also been helpful. RMHC Fiji is working with Aspen’s, Lautoka Hospital on a possible and hopes to also provide similar relief for families
Testimony
Ms Kesaia Vakaloloma who resides on Qamea Island, Cakaudrove gave birth to her son at the Waiyevo Hospital in Taveuni in April last year.
She and her son had to be rushed by fibre boat through rough seas from Taveuni and later transferred to the Labasa hospital.
After being cleared medically, she had to wait for her son to be treated, so Ms Vakaloloma was being accommodated at the Ronald McDonald House.
“I was really happy being accommodated at the Ronald McDonald House,” Ms Vakaloloma said.
“It’s relaxing and there’s no stress compared to being in a hospital ward.” At the house, they got to rest a lot, eat at the right time and it is stress free. “We get to talk and socialise with the staff and other mothers,” she said. “We come in as mothers and for some of us, we go back as family, from the bond we created.”
Ms Vakaloloma and her baby, Ponipate Sova were in hospital for 42 nights before they went home.