A NATIONS prosperity will be determined by how it cares for its most vulnerable.
This was shared by Meli Namasala, grandfather of 13-year-old Jaeli Rosituyawa Radniceva, a child living with albinism and a visual impairment, whose grandfathers unwavering support has become the foundation of her life.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Mr Namasala said he knew from the moment he first saw his granddaughter that she would need extra love and care.
Mr Namasala said he returned home from Syria in 2014 determined to help provide for Jaeli and support her parents.
He said he later encouraged Jaeli’s grandmother to take over her care after they noticed her mother was struggling to accept her.
“It should be our responsibility now to step in and support and take good care of her,” he recalled saying.
“Jaeli later moved with her mother to Suva to attend school in Vatuwaqa but often called, asking to return to back home to us.”
He said she told them she was not receiving enough food and that some of her needs were being neglected.
The family eventually brought Jaeli back home and enrolled her at Dilkusha School.
Mr Namasala said she is now in Year 7 after facing academic setbacks linked to the challenges she had experienced.
Reflecting on his family’s journey, he urged parents to embrace children with disabilities rather than reject them.
“My advice to the parents with kids that require special needs and care is that, ‘It’s a blessing to have one of this kind at home’.”
Mr Namasala said caring for children with disabilities was not only a family responsibility but one that reflected the values of a nation.
“The prosperity of any nation depends on how we look after the disabled, the underprivileged… like my granddaughter here.”
He also called on the Government to continue improving services for children with disabilities and thanked the programme for giving families an opportunity to share their experiences.
