Church Donates Medical Supplies to Hospital in Vava'u, Tonga

In a special ceremony on 13 May in Vava’u, Tonga, representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially donated medical supplies to the Prince Wellington Ngu Hospital.

Lord Fulivai, the Governor of Vava’u, was the honoured guest; and the hospital’s Doctor in Charge, Dr. Sione Taione, represented Tonga’s Ministry of Health at the ceremony. A large group of hospital staff and local citizens also attended.

The donation included surgical supplies and materials for cleaning the hospital to control the spread of infections and disease. The value of the donation is approximately $12,000 USD. A second donation of equipment worth $48,000 USD was announced, and will be made at a later date.

In his concluding remarks, Lord Fulivai stressed the importance of helping one another. “If we are not serving others,” he said, “what is the purpose of our being here?”

The Church was represented by Vava’u Tonga Stake President, ‘Ofa Ki Laie Veni; Country Welfare Manager, Ana Ika; and senior humanitarian missionaries, Elder and Sister Webb.

Elder Webb was one of the program’s speakers. He said to the medical staff in attendance, “Remember, when you are treating patients in this hospital, you are treating children of God.”

Before offering a prayer at the ceremony, the hospital’s head nurse said, “Now I know why they call it the Church of Jesus Christ.  It is because they serve their fellow men, just as the Saviour did.” 

Sister Webb later said, “The people of Vava’u who attended this ceremony expressed over and over how grateful they are for the donation of the supplies and medical equipment.  It will make a significant difference in the quality of care that can be given in this hospital and hopefully help to save the lives of many people in the years to come.”

Visiting student nurses and their advisors from Brigham Young University were among those in the audience.