Red Cross volunteers continue assisting frontline workers

Suva, 13 August 2021 – As the country continues to battle with the daily surge in COVID-19 cases, Fiji Red Cross remains at the frontline assisting the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. More than 100 Fiji Red Cross volunteers are part of the national vaccination effort, working alongside government health workers, registering people in vaccine centres, assisting with data entry and providing information about the vaccines. Over seventy five percent of Fiji Red Cross volunteers are youths.

Volunteers are also actively engaging with their communities and assisting with providing relevant and factual information with regards to the virus and the vaccine so that individuals are able to make informed decisions.

Fiji Red Cross Society Director General, Ilisapeci Rokotunidau said:

“Our volunteers have been working closely with the Ministry of Health frontline workers to register individuals for vaccination. We believe that the only way to beat this virus is to get as many Fijians as possible, vaccinated.”

Volunteer training has been comprehensive and covers information about the virus, vaccination and procedures on how volunteers can keep themselves and the public safe while working at vaccination sites. Volunteers also share all this information with their community members and also the importance of COVID-19 behaviours like social distancing the proper use of masks and hand washing.  Through continuous training, volunteers stay informed about COVID-19 so they can keep communities updated.

Ms. Ilisapeci Rokotunidau said:

“A lot of our elderly and people with underlying health conditions are being severely affected by this pandemic. Vulnerable members of our communities need all the assistance they can get to help them stay safe. We therefore urge our fellow Fijians to please pay attention to and follow the advice that has been provided by the Ministry of Health on a daily basis.”

Fiji is currently facing unprecedented challenges and that is why Fiji Red Cross volunteers work hard to ensure community members understand basic information about COVID-19, including its symptoms, complications, how it is transmitted and how to prevent transmission.