Vanuatu Ocean Swimmer donates to Vila Central Hospital

David Smith and his wife, Gayle, own a retail garden store called "Smithies" The plantsmith of Waiuku, which has been operating for 29 years in a small town called Waiuku about 70 Km out of Auckland New Zealand. In 2007 they came to Vanuatu on holiday and Gayle, who has kidney disease, fell ill and was treated at the Port Vila Central Hospital. This was what made them realize the needs of the Port Vila Hospital. On their return home they  placed a collection box on their shop counter and began putting small coins in it, with paying customers often putting some change in there as well. A handful of customers donated up to NZ$40.00, and the Smiths and Waiuku community organized smaller fund raisers to complement the collection box, which they hope to repeat next year in 2010.

This year, David Smith returned to Vanuatu to participate in the Vanuatu Oceans Swims and also have the opportunity to donate some money they collected over the previous two years. The donation was made during the Vanuatu Ocean Swims awards presentation on June 13, where Mr. Smith generously handed over ND$700.00 and an additional 5,000vatu, from one of the Ocean Swimmers who heard of the cause, to Mrs Annie Niatu, VTO General Manager, on behalf of the Vila Central Hospital.

Mrs Niatu then handed over the donation to Mrs Leipakoa Matariki, Vila Central Hospital Manager, and on receiving the money, Mrs Matariki explained that the donation will be used as part of upgrading VCH’s outpatient department. Mrs Gayle Smith is now on the short list to commence dialysis soon, and hopefully a kidney replacement in due course.

The Vila Central Hospital sincerely thanks the Smiths family and Waiuku community, in New Zealand, for their donation and support, and acknowledges that the money received will be for a worthy cause. The Vila Central hospital would like to wish Mrs. Smith complete recovery soon.