There is a great need for assistance for the disabled in Tonga and a challenge remains to assist the caregivers of the disabled year-round, Salote Fukofuka told Tongan community leaders who gathered at a Prayer Breakfast on Sunday, March 8 for International Women's Day.

The theme for IWD 2009 in Tonga was "Sharing the Caring", an appreciation of the caregivers of the aged, disabled, and the mentally and physically challenged.

The event was organised by the Women's Affairs Division of the Ministry of Education, Women's Affairs & Culture in collaboration with the International Women's Day National Planning Committee, who noted that caregiving is very crucial to the wellbeing and coherence of society but at times can be a challenging and difficult task and often goes unnoticed. This year's celebration of International Women's Day was an opportunity to give recognition and appreciation to caregivers in Tonga.

Salote said that because there were no proper record of church groups or organisations who are assisting those in disability as well as their carers she and another member of the IWD committee, 'Ofa Tu'ikolovatu, had inquired and found out the organisations that are doing this very important work in order to seek nominations of outstanding caregivers for appreciation.

Good hearts

"It is evident that assistance is very much needed to help and assist our brothers and sisters in disability throughout Tonga. We gathered from true stories there are two types of people who take up the vital task of caring for the disability. Firstly, there are those who feed, groom, and care for disabled people at home because that is their family responsibility.

"Secondly, there are those who stood up in the goodness of their heart to help those who have disabilities, whether their patients are mentally or physically handicapped or both.

"We give thanks for these people who have taken up the challenge to assist those in need as there are many in Tonga that we haven't reached out to assist," said Salote.

Organisations involved in the care of the disabled included, the Mango Tree Centre for People with Disability, the Salvation Army, Lifeline Tonga, the Tonga National Centre for Women and Children, Caritas Home of Compassion, Tonga Red Cross, the OTA Centre, the Alonga Centre, and the Vaiola Hospital Psychiatric Ward.

Difficulties

She related several difficult situations that were faced by carer organisations and carers of the disabled.

"One true story we have witnessed was not too long ago, is about a father of three children. He devoted his time in raising his children and one died. The father continued to care for his two children to a point where he went blind. Lavinia Satini of the Alonga Centre reported that she visited this home and his 21-year-old disabled boy was crying and his father asked her why his son was crying. She saw he was covered in ants so she went about cleaning the whole house. And assistance is being set-up for this family.

"The second story is about a Catholic nun Sister Senolita together with the Mango Centre who assist those with disability. This involved a mother who has over the past 40 years taken care of her disabled sons (one in a wheelchair and the other with cerebral palsy). One is now 45-years-old the other is 40-years-old and all these years the loving mother has devoted herself to feeding, cleaning and bathing her two sons. Assistance has been made for the family.

"The third story is about the Mental Institution at Vaiola Hospital, where Dr Mapa Puloka reported that the carers have a very difficult task. He said there are some who do not have any other life apart from taking care of their family in mental disability. And their difficult task becomes evident when the Carers themselves suffer from mental illness. He said three carers had been confirmed to have developed Alzeimer's disease because of the difficult task they carried for so long.

"I hope that we take up the challenge and assist the carers and the disabled in Tonga," said Salote.

Presentations

Sixteen caregivers who were nominated by organisations and individuals to receive appreciations were presented with $100 each, gifted by sponsors Air New Zealand, Adiloas and Western Union. They also received gift packs of toiletries and t-shirts and SIM cards from various sponsors.

HRH The Princess Royal Pilolevu Tuita, the guest of honour at the Prayer Breakfast held at the International Dateline Hotel, presented the appreciations to the nominated Caregivers and their representatives.

In a Vote of Thanks from the IWD organisers, Mary Lyn Fonua of the Matangi Tonga Online, said the occasion facilitated an awareness of the important role that caregivers are providing in the community and the nominated caregivers set a wonderful example for us all in their commitment to the service of others.

"We see by the number of men who are among the nominated caregivers that caring in Tonga is not merely a 'duty of women' but is a shared responsibility of everyone. Men and women in Tonga are truly sharing the caring," she said.

The Carers appreciated were:

1. A professional carer, Sisilia Mumuiheata, of Nukuhetulu, who cares for a paralysed friend.

2. A professional carer, Sitiveni Kaufusi, of Havelu, who cares for a mentally and physically handicapped friend.

3. A father, Aisake Prescott, of Sopu, who cares for a mentally challenged daughter.

4. A nephew, 'Alo Tu'ipuloto, of Pahu, who cares for his disabled uncle.

5. A friend, Nikisoni Tomasi, of Halaleva, who cares for his mentally challenged friend.

6. A niece, Paini Liliopau, of Pahu, who cares for her three elderly aunties.

7. A mother, Siosiana Falakiko, of Ma'ufanga, who cares for her two handicapped sons.

8. An aunty, Sela Paseka, of Ha'ateiho,who cares for her disabled niece.

9. A sister, Lineti Vuni, of Kolomotu'a, cares for her younger sister who is paralysed, .

10. A daughter, 'Etina Laumape, of Pea, who cares for her elderly father.

11. A sister, Tupou Tuakalau, of Hoi, who cares for her paralysed brother.

12. A mother, Tema Vunipola, of Veitonga, who cares for a son with leukaemia.

13. A cousin, Tupou Kolo, of Tofoa, who cares for a cousin with cancer .

14. A mother, Tupou Teumahenga, of Ha'ateiho, who cares for her mentally challenged son.

15. A friend, Seitaita Vake, of Houma, who helps to care for a mentally-challenged and disabled friend.

16. A widow, Meleami Mafi, of Ma'ufanga, who takes care of her disabled mother-in-law.

The celebration of International Women's Day in Tonga was supported by the Australian High Commission and the New Zealand High Commission, and other sponsors included: Adiloas, Air New Zealand, ANZ Bank, Billfish Bar and Restaurant, Digicel Tonga, Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga Women's Dept, Gio Recycling, Matangi Tonga Online, Professional PR, Tonga Communications Corporation, Tonga Development Bank, Tonga National Youth Congress and Western Union.