Nurses, Doc Off to Golan
Five Ministry of Health staff have each been given a military rank by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander, Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto at the Black Rock training ground in Nadi yesterday.
They will undergo training prior to serving on a year’s mission with the United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) serving in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel.
The five are Dr Leone Vuki (Captain) and four nurses, Meresaini Lasike (Warrant Officer 1 (WO1), Jima Taoi (Staff Sergeant), Luisa Lotawa (Staff Sergeant) and Emi Racava (Staff Sergeant).
For Ba Hospital matron, Mrs Lotawa, the rank comes with loads of responsibilities.
Originally from Mavana in Vanuabalavu, Lau, the mother-of-two children said she was blessed to be given the opportunity to be part of the mission to the Middle East.
“I am blessed to be part of this mission. This is a call for us to go and serve to the best of our abilities.
“It is going to be a new experience for me, but I know the rank comes with loads of responsibilities.” Commander Naupoto reminded the five medical appointees that they have a huge responsibility for the 134 military personnel who would rely on them for medical care.
“You carry the burden of making sure that if the people that you serve get injured or if something happens to them, you are going to do all your best for those military personnel to come back home to their families who are waiting for them,” he said.
“We want you to come back safely to your family.” Training for the UNDOF contingent consisting of 134 personnel will start on Monday at the Lololo Training Centre.
Those that have been serving for at least a year and a half with UNDOF will be replaced in March by this contingent.
The rotation affirms the normalising of the nation’s commitment to international peacekeeping amidst the trying times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.