Eleven students from Adi Maopa Secondary School in Vanuabalavu, Lau, were involved in a serious accident near Daliconi Village last Monday. They were transported to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital last week for further medical examinations.
One student remains hospitalized after an iron rod pierced her leg.
Selina Kuruleca, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, stated that every effort was made to ensure the students received proper medical care.
“They had been cleared by the Sub Divisional Medical Officer (SDMO) in Lomolomo Hospital, but we thought it necessary to have full X-rays due to concerned parents,” said Kuruleca.
“Since there are no X-ray machines in Lomolomo, the Ministry of Health facilitated their medical evacuation,” she explained. “They were all X-rayed yesterday morning, and only one student who arrived on Friday has been admitted due to injuries sustained during the accident.”
Kuruleca acknowledged the Ministry of Health for their assistance in transferring the students to Viti Levu. To ensure the students don’t miss out on school, the Ministry of Education is working with the Suva Office to provide them with access to school notes.
“We have students from Year 9 to Year 13 from four or five villages on that Rural Service Licensed (RSL) carrier that overturned,” Kuruleca said. “We are working to ensure they don’t miss out on learning and teaching in various subject areas.”
After their medical review, the students recalled the harrowing ordeal. School headboy Tevita Sokiveta mentioned he was one of the lucky students to escape without serious injuries.
“When the carrier tumbled down the hill, the students sitting near the front fell on top of me, injuring my leg,” Sokiveta said. “We arrived in Suva on Friday, and today we will review if we are fit to return to school.”
He mentioned that due to the incident, the students missed their midyear examinations. One of the students sustained neck injuries and was brought to Suva last Tuesday for treatment.
Year 12 student Lusiana Leba underwent surgery last Wednesday after an iron rod injured her leg. Her mother, Makereta Pareti, initially feared the worst when informed of the accident by a relative.
“I thought she had passed away, but when I reached the hospital, I heard her screaming in pain and rushed past the doctors to see her,” said Pareti. “She has difficulty walking, but she is eating well.”
“I thank the Lord she was lucky to survive such a terrible event,” Pareti added. She mentioned that students and parents would return home once the children had been reviewed.
The Ministry of Education is also awaiting a police report on the incident.