Forté’s latest donation heads to Samoa

Five day-stay chairs from Forté Hospital are about to set sail to Samoa, as part of Forté’s partnership with Belfast Kaiapoi Rotary.

Rotary New Zealand World Community Service has been sending containers full of medical and educational supplies to the Pacific Islands since 2000.

“We would have shipped around 40 containers of equipment to Samoa, Tonga and Fiji – all of it donated by organisations around New Zealand. It really is a huge community effort,” says Stuart Batty, Executive Director of Rotary New Zealand World Community Service.

Forté started donating equipment to the project in 2020, with the donations coordinated by Belfast Kaiapoi Rotary. Over the last five years, Forté has donated uniforms, scrubs, commodes, IV pumps, operating tables, and lithotomy legs to the project.

Forté Hospital Manager Angela Ross says it’s a pleasure to work with Belfast Kaiapoi Rotary to support the provision of healthcare in the Pacific.

“This is high-quality equipment and we are so grateful that through Belfast Kaiapoi Rotary we can give it a second life. We are proud to be part of this project, which aligns with Forté’s mission to support the wider health system in a sustainable way.

“We know the donation of these day-stay chairs, along with our many other donations over the years, make an enormous difference to healthcare staff, patients and communities across the Pacific. It’s pretty special,” Angela says.

Stuart says Forté’s latest donation of day-stay chairs, along with a large bag of non-slip socks, are due to set sail to Samoa in March. Once that shipment arrives it will be distributed by Rotarians in Samoa.

“We do hear back from our partners on the ground about how delighted they are to receive this equipment. In fact, after our last shipment of medical equipment we received a letter from the Samoan Department of Health saying how grateful they were,” Stuart says.

This year marks 25 years since Rotary New Zealand World Community Service first started this project.

“We have a great team at Rotary and wonderful partners on the ground in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, but this project wouldn’t be possible without organisations like Forté who donate items to us. We’re so grateful for their support.”

Image from left to right: Forté Hospital Manager Angela Ross, Neil Whiting from Belfast Kaiapoi Rotary, Forté Hospital nurse Ali Petch and Des Chave from Belfast Kaiapoi Rotary.