The Fijian community in Honiara used their national day last Friday to visit and present gifts to patients at the National Referral Hospital’s children’s ward in Honiara.
Fiji marked its 40th independence anniversary on Friday.
Led by their consul Atu Balekana, the Fijians put smiles on the faces of the patients as they presented gifts to the sick.
“There’s no better way to mark our national day than a visit to the kids and give them a smile,” Balekana said.
He said Solomon Islands and Fiji are Melanesian brothers who need to strengthen their relationship from small things to bigger things.
“We need to strengthen our ties, as Melanesian bothers, in small and bigger things.
“Put aside issues we had and work together as brothers”.
“This visit is what we normally do every year, and today we come here again visit these kids and to enlighten their hearts,” he said.
Sister in Charge at the children’s ward Anna Lofea said such visits are important for the recovery of the children as it enlightened their hearts and give them joy.
“The Fijian community visits us every year, and it’s important for the sick children to be visited. It did enlighten the hearts of the children as some of them have been here for months and needs visitors.
“We thank the Fijian community for their support towards the ward.”
Fiji gained its political independence in 1974.
BY CHARLEY PIRINGI
