Medical supplies to Tonga

The Commanding Officer of HMNZS MANAWANUI says he was delighted to deliver a container of medical supplies to Tonga as part of the ship’s voyage from Hawaii – but that container had to be grey.

MANAWANUI, returning from the two-week-long Exercise RIMPAC, made a contactless logistical stop at Nuku’alofa on 15 September. It required diplomatic clearances from Tongan authorities and coordination with the New Zealand High Commission to meet strict Tongan COVID-19 regulations.

Auckland charity “Take My Hands” collects usable medical equipment and resources that can no longer be used in New Zealand and redistributes them to organisations in need in the Asia-Pacific region. The container had medical trolleys, paediatric cots, hospital beds, baby warmers, mattresses, a wheelchair, bed linen, scrubs and gloves, and a specialised stand for an ultra-sound machine.

It is the first time a Navy ship has assisted the charity, says Take My Hands founder and trustee Janette Searle. They usually work with commercial companies with spare space and capacity, or utilise containers at a discounted rate – anything to keep the costs down.

“The equipment is for Vaiola Hospital. The obstetrics department have an ultra-sound machine but needed a stand. The cots and baby warmers are for the paediatrics department. We’ve packed that container like Tetris, fitting in the scrubs, gloves and linen.”

“We’re about supporting the Pacific, but also about minimising waste in New Zealand, using equipment that would have gone into a landfill. For commercial companies, sharing storage with us means they contribute to sustainability.” To date, the charity has distributed over 114 tonnes of equipment to nine different countries.

A container usually stays with a ship, but Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola, Chief Executive of the Tongan Ministry of Health, said the hospital purchased this one to convert into a medical workshop.

“We are very pleased to receive this consignment from Take My Hands and we are grateful for the support from the Royal New Zealand Navy.”

Lieutenant Commander Andy Mahoney, MANAWANUI’s Commanding Officer, said he is “beyond pleased” it all came together, after becoming aware of the charity last year. “I saw what they strived to support, and I couldn’t help thinking about NZDF’s commitment to the Pacific Reset programme and Manawanui’s planned deployment for Exercise RIMPAC.”

However, as a dedicated Principal Warfare Officer, a bright blue container just wouldn’t do. The crew painted the container grey during a quiet moment in Pearl Harbor. “We were going to be operating at RIMPAC, with a lot of photographs being taken. I thought a grey container would be much more appropriate on the back of a grey warship.” He also wanted the container, which looked a bit “tired”, to look nicer for Vaiola Hospital.

Ms Searle says she would love to work with the Navy again. “I’m a big fan of cross-sector collaboration, all working together, doing what they are expert at. When that happens, amazing things happen.”