‘KEEPING FIJI’S HEART BEATING STRONG’
FIJI, 24 September 2013 – In line with Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa’s commitment to the local community, they will be holding a fundraising dinner and silent auction for “Cure Kids” on Friday 27th September 2013. This special event will commence with pre-dinner drinks at 7pm in Latitude 17 Bar, followed by dinner in V restaurant.
All funds raised during this event will go directly to providing the community with an additional echocardiography machine. This machine is vitally important for the expansion of an echocardiography national screening programme.
Cure Kids Fiji was formed with key partner Accor Hotels, who wanted to give back to the people of Fiji. Children are a precious part of the Fijian culture and lifestyle yet, sadly, far too many lose their lives to basic illnesses that are treatable and preventable in other parts of the world.
It is estimated that approximately one in 30 children aged 5-14 in Fiji live with Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). Severe RHD causes permanent heart valve damage with the need for heart operations and can cause premature death.
Thanks to the amazing spirit and fundraising of Accor Hotels and the local and business community, Cure Kids Fiji is helping to fund the research and development of an innovative nurse-led echocardiography screening programme in schools with the aim of early detection of RHD so that children can be treated and go on to live a normal life.
To date, 10 nurses have been trained in echocardiography and nearly 10,000 children have been screened across the Fiji Islands with hundreds of previously undetected cases of RHD diagnosed and the children referred for treatment.
The aim is to establish the project as an ongoing national screening programme and the next phase of work will focus on up-scaling the expertise and resources to help make this possible as well as refining the mechanisms for providing effective long-term treatment in the unique setting of the Fiji islands.
The Accor Cure Kids Extreme Challenge will take place from 14th to 16th November in the Western Division. Support or donations are welcome, please contact Susan of the Sofitel Human Resources team at susan.waqanivere@sofitelfiji.com.fj
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa’s general manager Simon Jinks said: we extend our sincere thanks to the local business community and key sponsors, as without their support this very special event would not be possible”.
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