Mereoni Mokoi and Liku Tikoinayau Mereoni Mokoi of the Fiji Disabled Peoples' Association, was one of several South Pacific delegates to the World Assembly. Mereoni suffered a stroke two years ago, which left her paralysed down her left side and unable to walk. The stroke also left her unable to work in her previous job as a nurse educator at the Fiji School of Nursing. However, I am a very strong willed person, and I decided there must be a way I could help other disabled people. Mereoni said disability is still a hidden issue in Fiji, especially disability in children.
Parents are embarrassed if a child has a disability and try to hide it.
There are not enough special schools or vocational training centres for people with disabilities. For Mereoni and her colleague, Liku Tikoinayau, it was their first visit to an international DPI conference. Liku, who is vice-chairperson of the Fiji Disabled Women's Association, teaches at a school for intellectually disabled children in Suva. It is empowering to be part of such a big group from all over the world. It also encourages me to go back to Fiji and lobby our government for more facilities and access for people with disabilities.