Empower Pacific social workers have provided 452 people with counselling and psychological first aid to people impacted by super storm Yasa since December 22.
CEO Patrick Morgam said the Lautoka-based counselling service provider deployed 12 staff members from its Suva, Lautoka and Labasa offices to conduct psychological assessments and to provide much-needed counselling.
“They will be there for two weeks before we rotate them with fresh staff and volunteers,” he said.
“The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided us with 200 women’s dignity packs and 300 cartons of bottled water.
“And three of our senior counsellors from Suva branch have gone with Government initial damage assessment teams to the Lomaiviti and Lau groups of islands for eight days.”
Mr Morgam said he was proud of his team members because they had sacrificed time with family and loved ones during Christmas and New Year to respond to the needs of the nation.
“As far as I am concerned, they are our heroes because they did not hesitate in putting their hand up when the need arose.”
