Reporting: Fiji Disable Peoples  Federation

Reporting: Fiji Disable Peoples  Federation

General Progress Report

(Include key achievements, partners and challenges)

Reporting:

• Key Achievements – Highlights key activities implemented and the outcome of those activities.

Fiji Disable Peoples Federation in partnership with Spinal Injury Association with  the IDEA CLEAN project team  formed five volunteer teams to conduct packing and distribution of dignity kits for Women and girls  with disabilities not limiting  to men and boys   with disabilities living in affected areas around Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Rabi and Kioa post Cyclone Winston.

The initial  Assessment was  undertaken  by  Fiji Disable Peoples  Federation  with its  member affiliates namely: Fiji Association of the Deaf, Spinal Injury  Association, Psychiatric Survivors Association  and United  Blind Persons  of Fiji in  support  of  Pacific Disability  Forum  with financial  support  of  UNICEF undertook  an assessment for persons  with  disabilities  to the  affected areas from the Central, Western, Northern divisions including  Koro  and Ovalau as disability  data  was  not  part of  the NDMO data, and therefore  we  saw  the great need  for  persons  with disabilities  needs  to be identified  and  supported  for TC Winston  response. This assessment report helped us identify the Data of members affected before and due toTC Winston.

The five groups served the-

1)   Central Division

a)Rewa

1. 1 girl
2. 8 Females

                            III.     1 male

 Total of 10 persons with Disabilities was assisted in Rewa

b) Tailevu South

1. 1 girl
2. 6 Females inclusive of 1 new case

         III.  5male inclusive of 3 new cases

 Total of 12 persons with disabilities was assisted in Tailevu South

1. c) Tailevu North
2. 12 Females inclusive of 6 new cases
3. 18males  inclusive of 2 new cases

                        III.  1boy

 Total of 31 Persons with Disabilities was assisted in Tailevu North

 2)   Western  Division

1. a) Nadi
2. 5 Females inclusive of 1 new case
3. 7 Males inclusive of 1 new case

III.        1 Boy

1. 1 male with disability have deceased

Total of 13 Persons with Disabilities was assisted in Nadi

b) Lautoka

1. 1 new Female
2. 1 Boy

Total of 2 Persons with Disabilities was assisted in Lautoka

1. c) Ba
2. 2 Females
3. 3 males inclusive of 2 new cases

III.        1 child with disability have deceased

Total of 5 Persons with Disabilities was assisted in Ba

1. d) Ra
2. 26 Females inclusive of 3 new cases
3. 3 Girls inclusive of 1 new case

III.        5 Males

1. 2 Boys inclusive of 1 new case

Total of 36 Persons with Disabilities was assisted in Ra

1. e) Tavua
2. 3Females
3. Girls

III.        3Males inclusive of 1 new case

Total of 5 Persons with Disabilities was assisted in Tavua

3. Lomaiviti Province –
4. a) Ovalau
5. 28 Females inclusive of 4 new cases
6. 2Girls

III.        8 Males

1. 6 Boys inclusive of 1 new case
2. 2 women and 1 male  with disabilities have deceased

• Total of 44 persons with disabilities was assisted  in Ovalau

b) Koro

1. 32 Females inclusive of 3 new cases
2. 11 Girls inclusive of 1 new case

III.        7Males

1. 2 Boys inclusive of 1 new case
2. 2 women with disabilities have deceased

Total of 52 persons with disabilities was assisted in Koro

 Northern

1. a) Savusavu
2. 22 Females
3.  4 Girls

III.        32Males inclusive of 4 new cases

1 Women with disabilities have deceased

• Total of 71 persons with disabilities was assisted in Savusavu

1. b) Vuya, Bua
2. 7 Females inclusive of 1 new cases
3.  1 Girl inclusive of 1 new case

III.        7 Males

1.  1 Boy

• Total of 16 persons with disabilities was assisted in Vuya, Bua

1. c) Rabi
2. 12 Females inclusive of 3 new cases
3. 17 Males inclusive of 1 new case

III.         1Boy

1. 1  Women with disabilities have deceased

Total of 30 persons with disabilities was assisted in Rabi

1. d) Kioa
2.  6Females inclusive of 1 new case
3. 3Males

III.        1 Women with disabilities have deceased

• Total of 9 persons with disabilities was assisted in Kioa

5)   Taveuni

1. 25 Females inclusive of 15 new cases
2. 3 Girls inclusive of 1 new case

III.        34 Males

1. 9 Boys inclusive of 5 new cases
2. 2 women with disabilities have deceased

Total of 71 persons with disabilities was assisted in Taveuni

• Below is a table showing the summary of the overall numbers of Persons with disabilities we have assisted

*a total of 563 packs were bought from SIA for distribution in which  407 were given to the list given and 90 packs were given to the new cases and 66 packs were passed on to the respective regions DPOs  to pass and give to the members who were not present during our visit or those that we cannot go to due to the geographic locations and their road condition.

All recipients of dignity  packs  were  thankful  for  the visit  and  their  dignity  packs  that was handed  over  to them. They  were  grateful  for  the  assistant, and most of them  have been receiving  the  support  for the first time, and appreciation  also  shared by their family members  that  the thought  and care  for   persons  with disabilities. Cartons  of  books  was  handover  to  the Inclusive  schools  and Special schools  for all students use in which  it was well received  by the  school management.

• It was also  worth  noting  here  that  while  distribution  carried out, the team  also  identified  new  cases requesting  for support from  all the  divisions.

Partners – Who all the partners you have been working with, how have you been working with them.

The Federation  has  been  working  with  the  Provincial  councils  from the Central, Western, Northern including  Ovalau and  Koro  Divisions  in informing  them  of  the visits  and  traditionally  request for  their  approval  to  distribute  in the various  villages  and settlements.

• The Federation also  communicate  and worked  with  the  FDPF branch  focal points who are persons  with disabilities   to travel  with  the team  for distribution  within their  divisions.The  Federation  is  also  greatful for the kind   donations from the  two  corporate organizations  the      Narseys  Plestics  for donating  600  clear  plestics  a local  manufacture  of  plestics  towards  the packing   of the  dignity  items, also  the  Punjas  Ocean  Soapsin donating  800  bathing  soaps [body gard  for female ,male  and  child ].

• The Federation with the affiliate member the  Spinal Injury Association of Fiji  also  a  service  provider in Fiji   of mobility  devices using  their  international  networks  to receive  mobility devices, clothing, beddings , sanitary  items, ladies  protective  pants, sanitary  pads  for women  and children, books, kitchenutensils, adult and children’s  diapers with medical  consumables’ from its largest in-kind donors Physio Net UK based in Yorkshire England. The two organizations also work together in packing and distribution of Dignity packs to Women, girls, children and Persons with Disability to the affected areas namely Ovalau, Koro, Taveuni, Vanualevu, Rewa, Tailevu North and Tailevu South, Ra, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka and Nadi.

• In this partnership the Federation was able to work with SIA in ensuring the availability of these appropriate and vital items. In addition SIA also receive  DFAT  funding  towards  TC Winston response, which strengthens our response, in utilizing  the human resources  and  qualified field  technicians’ during  distributions  in  advising  proper  mobility  devices  to be used  by members  who requested  for  these  assistive   devices with  correct  measurement  and sizes depending  on the disability.

• Challenges – Within and outside of the organization regarding the template.

• Geographic locations of the recipients and bad road conditions
• Time limitations
• Weather conditions
• Delay of the arrival of the shipment to Fiji
• Language barrier
• Inaccurate of information  on the  data with  limited  information  with  actual  disability  need
• False information , pretending  to  be  a  person with disability  to also  benefit  from  the  assistance

• Lessons Learnt – How can this be done better in future?

• The involvement of  Disable Peoples Organizations  with persons  with disabilities  is critical in any  project or programs  target  to women and girls with disabilities  and    persons with disabilities as the slogan of  the   Federation  is Nothing  About  Us Without  Us.   

• The funding cycle  to  be longer and continues   as items  are not  readily available locally
• Consignment shipment and handling costs is more economically viable over procuring with establishing in-kind donors’ partners internationally to ensure quality and volume on assistive devices, medical consumables with sanitary kits needed for women girls, children, men and boys with disabilities.

Needs for persons  with disabilities  is ongoing even  prior  to  TC Winston, moreover  the need  is  twice  or even  for people  more  with  the  devastation  of  TC Winston. Women and girls  with  disabilities  personal  hygiene is  of more  risks  in terms  of  health  complications  due  to  accessing  WASH  facilities, sanitary  support  for safety, protection , personal  care to live  a  dignity  lifeand independence  in enjoying  life to the fullest.

• Reccomendations

• Opportunity for  continuity of  funding  for  follow up  and  serve  the new cases  that were  identified

• The need to  support  livelihood requests from the  initial  survey 

• The need to  document  the personal  stories of survivers  of  TC Winston  for  Women and girls  with disabilities to be than use  as advocacy  tool  to  Policy Makers  and  stakeholders for better  response  in  future  natural  disasters to persons  with disabilities  especially to women and girls  with disabilities.

Conclusion           

The  Fiji Disable Peoples Federation  with its member  affiliates sincerely  acknowledged  the   financial  support  rended  to the organization  from the UN Women CERF funding  towards  TC Winston, that  has enable  the Federation  to  also  respond  to the  needs of women and girls  with disabilities  to the  affected zones  from the  Central,Westernand Northern  divisions  including  Ovalau  and Koro in providing  disability  inclusive  dignity  packs  and mobility  devices  to  women and girls  with disabilities, not limiting  to children  and  men  with disabilities  which  was overwhelming.  This  has  also build  the organisations  capacity  to continue  the advocacy  at  various platforms in  ensurering  that   disaster  response  is  disability  inclusive, by involving  Disable Peoples  organizations  with persons  with disabilities  in all levels  of   development  to  implementation  playing  an  advisery  role  on issues   before  during  and after  disaster  response  and recovery  programs .

5 – Evidences – Pictures, videos etc.

1. Akeneta Waqanitoga a 50 year old amputee of Dama village, Ra receives her pack consisting of her Protective Pants, towel and Soap as pictured below

2. Students of Ra special School were very delighted to receives their books as shown below

3. Usman Ali a 68 year old woman who suffered from a stroke of Navakai settlement in Nadi was in tears as she received her sanitary kits with a walker to help her to move.

4. Alanieta Dinaulu 83 years old of Kade, Koro Lomaiviti tries out her walker as shown below.

A 15 year old girl as pictured below acquired her disability after surgery. She could not walk and grow after her surgery. She has a growth disorder and the parents are so happy to receive her packs and diapers.

6. Vaira Wati a little person of Sawakasi, Tailevu North aged 55 receives her Sanitary Kits

7. Sakiusa Coci a 4 year old amputee on the left below knee was glad to receive his kits consisting of a toy, 3 books and a blanket as shown below.

11)              Sovaia Suguvanua a female aged 17 of Noco, Rewa who has a weak limp is so happy to receive her packs as pictured below

12 Siapo Paka 92 elderly woman in Kioa who is also bedridden was so happy in receiving her packs.

13. Luisa Nai of Vuya, Bua, Vanualevu was given a walking stick to help her in moving around by our technician Solomoni Qaqa.

14. As shown below Solomoni Qaqa our technician trying to help Mrs Nai in trying out her new walking device.

15. Akeleto Tainamena of Taveuni age 57 is happy and lost of words as he receives his pack. His wheelchair footplates were also adjusted.

16. Vikotore Koroiadi ,8 year old child of Vuya, Bua, Vanualevu has a multiple disability- physical, slow learner, speech impaired as pictured below receives his kids pack. He cannot walk since his legs are weak; therefore He requested a UCP wheelchair children’s size, diaper XL, toys, plastic, books, pen etc. His parents had passed away so he also needs social welfare assistance to help him taken care of by his aunts.

17. Emali Veikoso a 12 year old of Weilagi Taveuni diagnosed with meningitis since 9 months old as pictured below. No physical movement. Emali is confined within the 4 walls of her home. Her dad seeks assistance from authorities for assistance for his daughter since they are growing old.

18 Voreqe Navule a 9 year old child of Qalitu district school in Vunivesi, Wailevu suffered from a cerebral palsy (CP) and requests children large diapers and a UCP wheelchair to help him mobilize. He was so excited upon receiving his children’s packs

19. Fiatagata an 18 year old male of Kioa who has a physical and speech impaired was so happy to receive his packs, he also requests for a wheelchair size 14

20. An elderly women in Rabi was assisted with a crutches which helped her to move around as pictured below