PMA did a callout for donations last month and one of the organisations that responded quickly and with no hesitation was Medical Aid Abroad (MAA).

MAA is a not-for-profit charitable trust who source donated and unused medical supplies across different hospitals and medical groups and then donate the supplies to those in need. 

Manager for MAA, Dr Mary Joku Ponifasio, says that making a donation was important for them as they wanted to support Tonga’s recovery efforts from the recent volcanic eruption and tsunami to their current Covid-19 outbreak. 

“The Tongan people are some of the nicest people we know. It touched quite a lot of our hearts when the explosion and tsunami happened. 

We’re giving PPE gear, hand sanitizers, wheelchairs, bed sheets, walkers, crutches…there’s so much that I can’t list them all”, says Dr Ponifasio. 

Chairman for MAA, Mr Murray Kerr, says when there is a call for help, they will always offer their support.

“Tonga is so close to us and is our next-door neighbor. They’ve had a really tough time with the eruption, the tsunami and now Covid. 

Whenever there’s a call from wherever in the world, we try to answer it. If we’ve got something here that can be used somewhere else, we give it away.”

Dr Ponifasio expresses MAA’s gratitude for the relationship they have with PMA that allows them to serve our people when they are most in need.

“We’re grateful for an organization that recognizes medically trained Pacific people. And we know there’s always a great need for medical supplies and people may not be able to reach us as much as we want but PMA is that connection to the Pacific Islands.”

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