Flying high for health

PICTURED: Five donated medical chairs were flown to Samoa in March aboard a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Hercules. (Photos: NZDF)

In a heartening collaboration between the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Forté Health Hospital and Rotary New Zealand World Community Service, five specialised medical chairs have touched down in Samoa.

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has delivered five specialised medical chairs for patients receiving chemotherapy or dialysis treatment in Samoa.

A RNZAF C-130J Hercules delivered the bulky chairs on March 19, which were donated by Christchurch’s Forté Health Hospital. The delivery was facilitated by Rotary New Zealand World Community Service (RNZWCS).

Forté Health Hospital has been donating medical equipment to the Pacific Islands since 2020, as part of a project organised by RNZWCS.

Forté Health Hospital manager Angela Ross said the chairs are high-quality equipment and they are grateful they could be given a second life.

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 said.

RNZWCS Executive Director Stuart Batty said he is delighted the RNZAF could fly the chairs to Samoa.

“For the past 25 years, Rotary has been sending shipping container loads of mostly medical and educational equipment to Pacific countries,” Stuart said.

“We got them in the container but we thought we might need to stack things on them and it could be a problem. So, I thought I would see if the RNZAF could take them and lo and behold they were able to.

It’s fantastic.”The chairs will likely be used at Apia’s main hospital, which has dialysis and cancer wards.

It’s so great the chairs were able to be flown over so quickly after my request. There aren’t too many aircraft that can move bulky equipment like these chairs. The Hercules is perfect for the job,” Stuart said.

No. 40 Squadron Commanding Officer Wing Commander Brad Scott said he was pleased the squadron could lend a hand.

“In situations where we have spare capacity it is a great way of helping our Pacific neighbours.

“To be able to offer to move chairs that will benefit people in need was a fantastic opportunity and we were happy to support charities such as Rotary and Forté Health Hospital with the flight.”