Petone Sponsors Ambulance for Solomon Islands

The Rotary Club of Petone is proving an Ambulance for the Solomon Islands.  They are seeking sponsorship for this project.  The letter below comes from the Rotary Club of Petone.  Please consider supporting this very worthy project.

Hello fellow Rotarians,

It’s likely that every one of us has been touched in some way by the urgent need for medical assistance. The fast and efficient response to our urgent need for aid is something we New Zealanders often take for granted. The proven life saving capabilities of a functioning ambulance service profoundly affects the injured, their families and friends, their community and ultimately everyone in the country.

The provision of this ambulance allows us the opportunity to have a positive impact and influence in a country that is struggling to provide improvements to life that we are easily familiar with.

The ambulance is a 1990 Chevrolet Sierra. It has seen service and helped save countless lives, injury and illness, mainly in the Wairarapa and is well suited to continuing that service in the Solomon Islands.  Mechanical servicing and maintenance are important to ensure the ambulance is operational whenever it is needed. Proven durability, readily available spare parts and a lack of sophistication and computers mean this ambulance is likely to have a minimum of down time and can be confidently maintained locally. Its robust chassis construction means it is well able to cope with some of the poorer roads it is likely to encounter.

The Ambulance has been purchased from Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) in an arrangement that includes uniforms and wet weather clothing, medical equipment and supplies. It also includes the provision of two professional Ambulance personnel to travel to the Solomon’s to train and instruct the local medical staff.

One of the challenges is getting the ambulance to its destination. We are incredibly fortunate in that we have the assistance of the New Zealand Defence Force. The ambulance will be transported from Wellington to Auckland aboard an army transporter to be loaded on to the HMNZS Canterbury. After arriving in Honiara the ambulance will be transferred to the USS Pearl harbour for delivery to Gizo, where the Solomon Island Medical Authorities have decided will be home base and where the ambulance will help fill a large need.

Local companies have been quick to assist with the preparation of the ambulance and our thanks go in particular to Computaleta Ltd and Concept Signs Ltd for supplying the materials for and providing design and installation of the new graphics. Looks great!

The funding for the ambulance is in two parts.

Firstly the purchase and equipping, including the paramedics, travel, uniforms and refurbishment. The delivery and transportation. Unbelievably all of that has been done for $20,000! I know ! Brilliant just Brilliant.

Secondly the continued support for operation, servicing and maintenance. The Solomon Islands Medical authority is like many, under budgetary stress. Couple that with the change to increased independence and the need for a period of further support is clear. This means we need a group of 10 clubs agreeing to provide $200 per year for up to five years. This will be managed by Petone Club who will be one of the funders.

Please consider pledging an amount to the Solomon Islands Ambulance.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Yours in Rotary

The Petone Rotary Ambulance Team.

Colin Partington

Tel: 021 869 231  

 email: president@petonerotary.org.nz