Rotary & Rotaract spend Christmas with sick patients

The Rotary Club of Honiara together with Rotaract Club of Honiara, SI on the 25^th December again put smiles on the face of patients and health workers spending Christmas Day in the hospitals and other care giving institutions in Honiara.

It has been the two clubs’ long standing traditional community service as captured in their charter to give out Christmas presents to sick patients and health workers during Christmas Day, not only that but also sing melodious Christmas carols to bring the Christmas spirit, cheer and put smiles on faces of people who cannot spend the holidays at their homes with their families and friends.

Despite the global Covid-19 pandemic this year, putting most of their 2020 calendar events on hold, this year’s Christmas present give away which was usually headed by the parent Rotary Club of Honiara was a major success for both clubs.

“The programme was very successful despite having other events for this year cancelled, and we still manage to pull it off,” the Rotaract Club, President Aiden Ofu, said.

The programme started at the National Referral Hospital compound. Rotaractors and Rotarians accompanied by Santa Claus from Ward to Ward gave out presents to sick patients as well as for health workers and other axillary staff who were on duty on Christmas Day.

At the hospital, when the club members sung beautiful Christmas carols it was very warming and comforting to see the sick patients and health workers put on smiles despite whatever sick they were going through and were unable to spend the festive day with their friends, a statement said.

General supervising nurse at the National General Hospital, Theresa acknowledged the efforts displayed by the Rotaractors and Rotarians.

“Today we are so happy that you all have taken your time to come out and share the Christmas spirit with us here at the hospital. The smiles on the patients face truly speaks a lot of the joy you all have bring and foremost we acknowledge you for bringing the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ who was born 2000 years ago and today we remember his birth in our hearts,” she said.

The gifts presentation was further extended to the Good Samaritan Hospital at Tetere, Guadalcanal Province where gift bags were also presented to patients and duty health workers. It was later wrapped up at the Christian Care Centre where the Sisters and patients exchange Christmas carols with the Rotaractors.

Senior Coordinator at the Christian Care Centre, Sister Ruth shared the same sentiments given by supervisors at the hospitals, thanking Rotaract and Rotary Clubs for bringing the Christmas spirit and joy to them and be part of their Christmas celebrations away from homes and family.

Rotaract President Mr Ofu thanked the Rotary Club of Honiara Board of Directors for donating and sponsoring the gift bags which made the programme a success. He also acknowledged the Rotaract members who took their time to come and the brave the heat of the sun to share the joys of Christmas to with the unfortunate ones.

The members also shared their happiness and positivity about the programme saying that there could not have been a better way to celebrate the Christmas Day than putting smiles on the faces of the patients.

Meanwhile the club will resume their voluntary services in 2021 with tight calendar of events and community services. The board of directors is calling on the youths of above 18 years old to check out their official Facebook page and come join the club and be part of positive change makers through volunteerism.

Rotaract Communications.

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