PITA Donates to Vanuatu Society for People with Disabilities
A donation of VT 1.24 million from funds generated during the recent Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) AGM hosted by Interchange was made to the Vanuatu Society for People with Disabilities (VSPD). The donation was handed over this week by Interchange (ICL) Chairman Jean Marie Duffau, and Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and ICL Board Director Cheryl Ala.
Operating since 2002, the VSPD is run by 28 local women and supports people with mental and physical disabilities across the Vanuatu islands.
The funds will provide funding support for mobility of people with disabilities by providing the equipment needed to enable a better standard of living and participate as fully as possible in community life in Vanuatu.
“Interchange working in collaboration with PITA is helping to support the host nation’s needs,” said Interchange Jean Marie Duffau. “We are committed to supporting the Government’s National Sustainable Development Plan and events such as the PITA AGM are critical to bringing business opportunities, tourism and raising the profile of Vanuatu internationally.”
“We hope ICL’s and PITA’s small contribution will make a difference to the heroes behind the VSPD to continue their important work in helping people on the fringes of society retain a level of dignity in their communities,” he said.
The Society also supports seniors in villages who struggle to get care and companionship that is needed but who are often left isolated and lonely. Seniors and people with disabilities are also the most vulnerable when it comes to climate change and the associated risks of water scarcity, food shortages, and natural disasters.
“During disasters, people with disabilities are often not able to access relief efforts as quickly as others,” said Program Manager of the VSPD Judith Lakavai. “Whenever there is a warning of natural disaster, we contact our local members to prepare them for situations before, during, and after disaster strikes.”
According to the 2016 Mini-Census, over 12 per cent of the Vanuatu population has some impaired mobility issues due mainly to old age, and an estimated 1,400 people with physical disabilities.
PITA is a non-profit organisation and holds its AGM each year in the Pacific Islands. This year the AGM was held on 29 April to 2 May at the Warwick Le Lagon conference centre, and was attended by more than 250 delegates from the telecommunications industry from around the world, engaging Governments, regulators and the private sector in the sharing of experiences, challenges and solutions through new innovations.
