Mr. Takuya Shizumi is from Japan who came to the Banana and Kakamora Land in 2012 under the JOCV program.
He is a physiotherapist by profession, qualified in that field and very experienced, committed and dedicated to his job just like all Japanese are.
When he arrived in Kirakira Hospital in 2012, he was assigned to work with the CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation Unit).
The unit has a nurse coordinating the program with employed staff under the CBR program (direct employees of the province/PHMS, non establish, MOH).
The CBR work with persons with disabilities, those affected by physical, mental and sensory impairments such as deafness, blindness, impaired mobility, developmental & intellectual impairments.
The CBR officers are also qualified and skilled craftsmanship in producing aides (crutches/ walking stick& other adaptive devices), more so construction of toilet slabs for persons with disability.
Mr. Taku (in short and popularly known by that around Kirakira) not only deals with physio work directly with patients or clients but is also involved in other tasks like his local counterparts. He has traveled around the province in good and bad weather.
Besides his job, he plays football and loves to run along the road west of Kirakira mornings and evenings. In the 2013 Fun Run in Honiara, he flew from Kirakira to Honiara and back.
He participated in that fun run producing his own outfit wears for that event and he was captured wearing his black T shirt with the words “Banana Boy” and “Boy from Makira”.
In 2012 he was part of a capacity building workshop organized by the PWDSI in conjunction with CBR MUP and Makira Ulawa Provincial Government.
It was during this workshop that the PWDAMUP was established with its executive committee appointed.
At the end of the workshop which coincided with the international Disability Day 3rd December 2012, the day was marked by a parade with a speech from the minister responsible for persons with disability, followed by small refreshment.
The family hosted a dinner to farewell Mr. Taku on Sunday 8th June; Mr. Taku left for Honiara the next day Monday 9th for Honiara. He will be leaving the Solomon Islands today for Japan.
Mr. Taku had done a lot for Makira Ulawa Province in his short stint in the province from 2012 to mid 2014 and we acknowledge his contribution, his hard work and we immensely thank him for his good work.
We hope those he worked with especially the CBR staff learnt from him and will put into practice his examples of commitment/dedication to tasks assigned and his skills/knowledge passed on.
His last wish was to attend and witness the Spear fighting at Aorigi, Santa Catalina on 28th May. He did attend and had fond memories of that event.
His favourite food is Toraka a plantain (banana) unique to Makira. If quarantine allows it, we from the Banana Land will try to send him occasionally this favor of his.
Fare well Mr. Taku and may you have a safe journey home and a bright future.
By Kaura Freelance Writer
Through the Kaura Huki Newswire
