A Tongan social services provider, the Ma‘a Fafine mo e Famili, has won funding support to continue its caregiving to the elderly and disabled children for another year.

For the last year, the organization has been assigning caregivers and child development workers to visit and care weekly for the most vulnerable elderly people and children with disabilities in areas of Tongatapu and Ha’apai.

The essential service under Tonga’s first Social Service Pilot Project, was extended for a second year, when the Deputy Secretary for Finance Lesieli Faletau and Betty Blake the President of the Ma‘a Fafine mo e Famili signed a 12-months contract of extension on August 1. The Ma’a Fafine is a local non-government organization that was contracted last year to carry out the service.

Betty said the project has two components, firstly, the Aged Care Service for the Elderly over 60 years who have major health conditions limiting their ability to care for themselves; and secondly, the Early Intervention Program for children with disabilities aged 0-3 years.

She said they had 20 trained caregivers visiting 140 elderly people living mainly in the western and eastern districts of Tongatapu, including 24 elderly in Ha'apai. Once a week the elderly clients receive home support from a caregiver who provides cleaning, cooking and personal hygiene care.

Disabled children

In the Early Intervention Program for children with mental or physical disabilities, three trained child development workers  make home visits once a week to around 40 children and babies in Tongatapu, including one child in Ha'apai.

The program focuses on the promotion of healthy development for children suffering from disabilities caused by cerebral palsy, down syndrome, as well as development problems from malnutrition. A trained case manager is on hand to address the unique concern of families, while connecting them to health, social services and government resources.

The program works with families who struggle with caring for their child with special needs. Such families often feel the pressure of the stigma attached to having a child with a disability and are often isolated and left feeling ashamed.

Betty said this was a much-needed program and she had seen how it had improved the quality of life of the elderly and assisted the families who had a child with special needs. “We hope that after the extension the Government of Tonga would fund the program so that it continues,” she said.

Policy

Malakai Kaufusi the ADB Project Manager, said the government would work with ADB in the next twelve months to draft a social service policy that will help to solidify social services for all eligible citizens of Tonga.

The pilot project which received $300,000 last year, and again this year, is jointly funded through the Asian Development Bank, the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction and the Government of Tonga.

In the first year, the European Union  funded two capacity building positions, a Child Development Trainer and Social Services Trainer.

Partners

The Mango Tree Centre is an important partner for the Early Intervention program, providing paediatric clinic every month. An Australian physiotherapist provides ongoing supervision and support to the Child Development Workers, while the Ministry of Health provides support through sponsoring physicians for both programs.

A ceremony for the extension of the funding at the Ma'a Fafine Moe Famili office in Nuku‘alofa was attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Tonga HE Dr Kazuchika Hamuro, the Ma'a Fafine chairperson Lupi 'Akolo, and Rev. Sio Leota.