Many of Suva’s most vulnerable residents have been unable to receive their monthly family assistance allowance of $7 due to a backlog in voucher processing at the Suva Welfare Office, which has persisted for over three months.
This situation has placed significant strain on the Bayly Clinic’s welfare office, as an increasing number of recipients sought assistance, nearly leading to the clinic’s closure. The welfare department acknowledged the backlog began in July 1978, attributing it to a severe staff shortage.
Shirly Hemming from the Bayly Clinic expressed that the facility was overwhelmed with the influx of people in dire circumstances who had not received their assistance for the month. The clinic already serves 240 needy families with weekly food packages but faces challenges in accommodating the growing number of additional families.
As a result, the clinic has had to reduce its food supplies, specifically rice and dhal, to manage the increased demand. Hemming noted that the welfare office receives only $750 a month in secured funding from the Bayly Trust, and they are now relying on their reserve resources.
With the current pace, she warned that they could only sustain operations for another four to five months before being forced to close. Moreover, Hemming observed numerous voucher books for reapplicants stacked up at the Government Suva Welfare Office, indicating that while the vouchers have been processed, they are still awaiting signatures.