Free state-of-the-art facility in Suva
Venkat Raman
Auckland, September 28, 2020
Sai Prema Foundation, a not-for-profit Organisation is to open a Children’s Hospital to provide a range of free medical services to the needy.
Foundation Director Sumeet Tappoo announced the establishment of the medical facility at the fourth anniversary celebrations held in Suva on Saturday, September 19, 2020.
Called, Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Hospital, it will incorporate state-of-the-art facilities and services and will be the first of its kind in the South Pacific.
Savings lives in the Pacific
Mr Tappoo said that the Hospital is being built with the vision to save the lives of hundreds of the children in Fiji and thousands in the South Pacific.
The Hospital Project was inspired by the leadership of Mr Bainimarama, he said.
“All the services will be given completely free of charge. The manifestation of your vision for our beloved nation has created a solid platform upon which, the government’s cooperation, businesses organisation, individuals and NGO’s like ourselves aspire to reach newer heights,” Mr Tappoo said, addressing Mr Bainimarama.
Sai Prema Foundation has been motivated by Mr Bainimarama’s vision for Fiji, he said and added that he and his wife Mary Bainimarama have accepted to be the Patrons of the Foundation.
“We are venturing into uncharted waters. Sai Prema Foundation has a dream, a dream of serving the people of Fiji, a dream where no child is left behind, a dream where every child born with congenital heart disease is given a gift of life,” Mr Tappoo said.
Service to all
Mr Bainimarama said that Sai Prema Foundation is a testament to the sense of purpose, devotion to humanitarian service, drive, and their ability to make plans and execute them faithfully.
He said that he was moved by the Organisation’s mission to promote love, peace and unity.
“You live those principles by providing your services at no cost to all Fijians irrespective of race, religion, caste or creed. The partnerships that the government has formed with Sai Prema Foundation Fiji are excellent examples of the public and private sectors bringing their assets together to do things that would be more difficult for one of us to do alone,” he said.
Mr Bainimarama said that the Foundation has fulfilled all promises that it made at the time of its establishment.
“My government fully supports the work of the Sai Prema Foundation’s projects and initiatives because of the great benefits they bring to this country and because of the example they set for others who have enjoyed success and have the means to share their blessings with their fellow citizens,” he said.
The Foundation was established on August 19, 2016 as a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) to serve the underprivileged and needy people of Fiji through Medicare, Educare and Socio-care initiatives.
Environmental Ambassadors
Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Hospital Medical Director Dr Krupali Rathod Tappoo said that the global environmental leadership of Mr Bainimarama also motivated the Foundation to commence an environmental awareness campaign.
The Foundation announced the appointment of seven Ambassadors to advocate the cause of Children’s Heart Disease in Fiji and the Pacific:
They include Australian High Commissioner John Feakes, New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Curr, European Union Ambassador for the Pacific Sujiro Seam, Deputy British High Commissioner Paul Welsh, French Ambassador Jean-Francois Fitou, Fiji 7s Rugby Coach Gareth Baber and Fiji Rugby legend Jerry Tuwai.
