ONE of Fiji’s leading cruise companies has partnered with Cure Kids Fiji to overcome urgent child health challenges in Fiji.
The partnership between Captain Cook Cruises Fiji and the charity organisation is aimed achieving significant improvements for children, their families and communities throughout the country.
The partnership will see Captain Cook Cruises Fiji supporting Cure Kids Fiji by applying a $1 per room per night charge on an opt out basis to guests on MV Reef Endeavour.
This means that 100 per cent of this donation will go directly to Cure Kids Fiji to help save thousands of childrens’ lives.
Cure Kids Fiji has been working in Fiji since 2006 to improve the health of Fijian children through research and evidence-based child health programs.
Too many Fijian children lose their lives to illnesses that are both treatable and preventable in other parts of the world, such as rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and pneumonia.
Cure Kids Fiji focuses on developing life-saving solutions for these illnesses through their Rheumatic Heart Disease Control and Prevention Program and the Fiji Oxygen Project.
According to Captain Cook Cruises Fiji general manager Tony Acland, the company will also work with the RHD team to facilitate screening in remote Fijian villages and schools on Captain Cook Cruises itineraries.
This includes to the Yasawa, Mamanuca and Lau Group Islands.
“We are so happy to be given the opportunity to partner with Cure Kids Fiji and look forward to proactively helping improve health outcomes for Fijian children and their families,” Mr Acland said.
“Many of our staff, who we consider family, have children and grandchildren that have been affected by these illnesses and we hope to not only save lives but to also build a sense of community and purpose around this important cause.”
In addition to this Captain Cook Cruises Fiji will support annual fundraising and charity events and help promote Cure Kids Fiji and the work they do through raising awareness and educating their guests, the people of Fiji, and Captain Cook Cruises staff.
Captain Cook Cruises Fiji operate three, four, seven and eleven-night cruises around the inner and remote islands of Fiji onboard small ship, MV Reef Endeavour.
The company also operates a full day Tivua Island Day cruise, a half day Lazy Lunch cruise to Tivua Island and a Sunset Dinner Cruise.
About Cure Kids Fiji:
Cure Kids Fiji was launched in 2006 in partnership with AccorHotels and the New Zealand based charity Cure Kids, who were founded by Rotary 45 years ago.
Since launching in Fiji, child health research and initiatives worth more than FJ $5m have been delivered in partnership with the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) affects one in 50 children, while life-threatening is a preventable condition.
Fiji has the highest known rates in the world and is the leading cause of death for young people and the second most common cause of death for pregnant Women.
In June 2014, a four-year partnership project commenced with the aim of preventing and reducing the impact of RHD in the Fiji Islands.
In partnership with the Fiji Ministry of health and world-leading RHD experts from Australia and NZ, Cure Kids is leading a national-level, research-based project, improving and building capacity across all aspects of RHD control and prevention.
The Fiji Oxygen Program
Each year in Fiji, approximately 200 children under 5 years of age die from pneumonia and newborn illnesses.
Using oxygen to treat pneumonia in children reduces death by 35 per cent. However, many health facilities in Fiji have unreliable or rationed oxygen supplies, leaving patients vulnerable.
Cure Kids Fiji in collaboration with the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services and experts at the University of Auckland, are implementing new ways to improve oxygen availability to save lives.
