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Caring for the Vulnerable in Tonga

In the Pacific island state of Tonga, an ADB project helped build the capacity to look after the elderly and children with disabilities.

By Asian Development Bank

March 18^th, 2021

THE SOLE KINGDOM IN THE PACIFIC

Tonga, more aptly known the Kingdom of Tonga, sits on its throne as the only constitutional monarchy in the Pacific.

An archipelago of 169 islands, this Polynesian country offers a wealth of nature’s wonders.

Like in other tropical countries, the weather in Tonga can be unpredictable.

Locals harvest their catch-of-the-day from a fishpen they built themselves.

But the kingdom's crowning glory has always been its people.

A fisherman in Tonga proudly shows off his fresh catch.

A Tongan woman happily preparing tapa. Learn what a tapa is in the next photo.

Tapa is an ornamental cloth made out of tree bark. It is used during celebrations in Tonga.

Tongans decorate tapas with traditional patterns.

A local on his early-morning fishing routine.

Children walking with freshly-caught fish on a road in Tonga

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been working with Tonga since 1972 to raise the quality of life in the Pacific island nation and secure a bright, sustainable future to its population of more than 100,000.

Joining forces with Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR), ADB funded a social protection project in the kingdom through the Social Protection of the Vulnerable in the Pacific program.

Completed in 2015, the project enabled the Tongan government and local civil society organizations to build long-term, sustainable capacity to help the vulnerable – in particular the elderly and children with special needs.

ADB funds several climate resiliency projects in Tonga

A sea barrier along a coastal area in Tonga, the site of an ADB project.

Specialized vehicles have been procured for Tonga's Waste Authority Ltd (WAL) and Tonga Water Board (TWB) through ADB funding.

A new cell and septage beds were built at the Tapuhia Waste Management Facility.

ADB supports the municipal government in Nuku'alofa as it modernizes services such as water supply, solid waste management, and sanitation.

ADB is funding the reconstruction and climate-and-disaster-proofing of the Nuku'alofa electricity network that was damaged by Tropical Cyclone Gita on February 2018.

An electrician fixing power lines in Tonga

An electrician is about to finish working on an electrical line in Tonga.

CARING NEVER GETS OLD

Matelita Fataua, an 81-year-old woman who suffered a stroke in 2017, is one of the many Tongans who benefitted from the social protection capacity built in the country through the project.

Matelita’s ailment left her bedridden and requiring 24/7 care. But her daughter works full-time and has children of her own to look after.

As much as the family would love to give Matelita the care that she needs and deserves, they simply cannot do it on their own.

81-year-old Matelita Fataua happily shares stories with her caregiver.

To help people like Matelita and her family, Tonga's Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a social protection project.

Using funds from the joint ADB-JFPR project, the Ministry of Internal Affairs through the non-government organization Ma’a Fafine Mo e Famili (MFF), designed and implemented social protection services in the country.

Since 2018, Matelita has been assisted by Puatiasia Fatai, her MFF caregiver.

Puatiasia visits Matelita almost every day and takes care of her as if she were family - helping her eat, use the restroom, wash her clothes, and keep her mind active.

She has now become a loving member of the Fataua household.

Puatiasia looks after Matelita as they both enjoy chatting.

“My mom also got support from MFF’s elderly care program. That’s how I heard about it. My mom’s caregiver was so helpful when she was sick that when my mom passed away, I told MFF I wanted to help families with similar needs. I’ve been doing this ever since.”

Puatiasia Fatai, MFF caregiver

Vika and Alice Tuifua stand outside their white-paneled wooden house where they have been living since 1957.

Vika Tuifua and her sister Alice have lived in this same white-paneled wooden house since 1957. Most of their family members live abroad, leaving Vika and Alice alone in their home.

Although they are strong, joyful, and caring, they miss having their family around.

When Vika found out about the elderly care program, she marched down the road and knocked on MFF’s door, which is just a few minutes’ walk from her home.

MFF welcomed her in and asked how they could help.

Years later, the Tuifua sisters still get excited every time their caregiver visits their home, which happens nearly every day of the week. The three of them eat together, tidy up the home, and chat.

Siutiti Osamu, a caregiver at MFF, brushes Vika Tuifua’s hair.

Amelia Akauola, another beneficiary, reads a book with her MFF caregiver Linda Vi.

MFF caregiver Linda Vi happily shared, “Love is the first thing, to do this type of work. That is the greatest remedy for all other problems. To care is to treat her [my patient] like my own mum.”

“Before this program, children in Tonga would put food on the table for the elderly and disappear for the rest of the day. Now you have two ladies who come in every morning, and they treat their elderly differently, no? The atmosphere changes—we laugh, we talk, we share news. That is the kind of support they look for.”

Betty Blake, MMF Founder

NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND

MFF has also launched Tonga’s Early Intervention Program, which was designed to ensure that children with disabilities get the help they need, regardless of their family’s financial situation.

Three-year-old Andrew Fakaanga lives with his family in a small fishing village east of Nuku’alofa, the capital of Tonga.

He was born prematurely and failed to thrive.

At first, his parents did not know how to care for a child with special needs and were also struggling financially. Moreover, they didn't have the birth certificates to enroll their children at school.

Andrew Fakaanga browses a book brought by trainee child development worker Roland Salt, who they call Lenny.

According to Andrew’s mother, Mafi Fakaanga, when Andrew was 11 months old, a hospital referred them to MFF, which proved to be a turning point for them.

Aside from providing formula milk and other essentials, MFF also assisted Mafi and her husband to get the papers for the children’s schooling.

Three-year-old Andrew Fakaanga reads about vegetables, and plays with his mother Mafi Fakaanga and caregiver Lenny.

Andrew was assigned a caregiver, trainee child development worker Roland "Lenny" Salt, who has been visiting the Fakaangas household for over 2 years now. Every week, she brings a box of toys and books to play with the child.

She also brings a wealth of knowledge about young people with disabilities and how to help them and their families lead dignified and fulfilling lives.

“There are still more than 1,000 people out there living with disabilities, and many more elderly. Everyone is included in our mission. We hope that with ADB’s support, and with other partners, we can become self-sustainable and leave no one behind.”

Fotu Kuohiko Valeli Fisi'iahi, CEO, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tonga

While the ADB-JFPR project was officially closed in 2018, funding actually stopped in 2015. Ever since, the Government of Tonga has been able to stand fully behind its social protection program for the vulnerable.

Thanks to the project, domestic stakeholders developed the skills and capacity to not only continue with their assistance program, but also scale it up across the country.

Next, they plan to reach more people in need, including those living in the archipelago's outer islands.

To know more about ADB’s work in Tonga, visit www.adb.org/countries/tonga/main

Footnotes

Photos by Eric Sales, Text by Antonio Lou Chua, Giovanni Verlini, and Roble Velasco-Rosenheim

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FootNotes

Photos by Eric Sales, Text by Antonio Lou Chua, Giovanni Verlini, and Roble Velasco-Rosenheim