The Rotary Club of Papatoetoe Central from Auckland has delivered a major boost to Fiji’s health services with the donation of 72 oxygen concentrators, valued at approximately NZ$350,000, the club announced this week. The life-saving equipment was officially handed over to the Ministry of Health in a ceremony led by Honourable Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, marking the latest development in a series of humanitarian projects by the club across the country.
Rotary Club president Naleen Chand said the concentrator donation was the flagship of a broader programme of support covering health, education and early childhood services. “Alongside our health, education, and early childhood initiatives, we are proud to contribute to meaningful and lasting community impact,” Ms Chand said, describing the concentrators as a significant step in strengthening respiratory care services across Fiji’s health system. The club noted the equipment will support patients in critical need and strengthen capacity at frontline facilities.
In addition to the concentrators, the Rotary delegation delivered a range of essential medical supplies to regional facilities. Nausori Health Centre received bedding, phlebotomy needles, hubs and related items to shore up frontline care, while distributions of supplies included Nausori, Sigatoka, Nadi and Labasa hospitals and other regional health centres. The club said these additional deliveries were intended to supplement existing stocks and enable immediate improvements in routine and emergency care.
The Rotary team also extended support beyond hospitals. Lautoka School for Special Education was provided with educational resources to improve learning environments for students with special needs, and Narewa Kindergarten received classroom materials to boost early childhood development and wellbeing. The club framed these efforts as part of a sustained commitment to community-level projects that address both health and educational needs.
Rotary officials acknowledged the collaborative nature of the effort, citing contributions from travelling Rotarians and donors in both New Zealand and Fiji, and close coordination with local health, education and government stakeholders. Special recognition was given to the Rotarians who supported and participated in the mission: immediate past president PJ Dhatt, Jaspinder Dhatt, past president Raj Pardeep Singh, Ashima Singh, Mukesh Arora and Vandana Arora.
The donation arrives amid continuing efforts to strengthen Fiji’s public health infrastructure, particularly for respiratory care, which requires reliable oxygen supply and functioning equipment in regional hospitals. While the Ministry of Health has not yet published a breakdown of how the concentrators will be allocated across facilities, Rotary’s statement said the equipment will be distributed to health centres and hospitals where demand for oxygen therapy is greatest.
The handover by Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu and the accompanying community projects underline a trend of international and diaspora community organisations partnering with Fiji’s public services to fill gaps in equipment and supplies. Rotary Club of Papatoetoe Central described the campaign as part of ongoing engagement and indicated continued follow-up support to ensure the donated equipment and supplies are integrated into local care services.