Believing that Christianity goes together with health and well-being pushed the women's committee of Seventh Day Adventist church (SDA) of Vaimauga and Anoamaa zone to donate to the health centre at Lufilufi.  

The Vaimauga and Anoamaa SDA women's group called 'Toreka' put together a number of bed sheets and pillows and offered them to the Lufilufi clinic on Thursday last week. The donation was a follow-up to the community service done by the SDA youth to the same district hospital, in commemoration of the SDA global youth day last month. 

One of the members of the Toreka said their donation was to promote healthy living and spread the good news of the gospel.

"Seventh Day Adventist church believes that the right hand of the gospel is health. People cannot worship God with all their hearts if they are sick. Therefore, we just want to reach out and show kindness to those who are in need of help especially the patients at hospital," she said.

"This is another way to reflect God's love to others. It is through our actions that people will believe that no matter what they are facing, God is still with them and fight".

She added their donation focused on the health centres located in the rural villages. 

"We have seen that there are not enough resources in the rural clinics to assist the people who access to those hospitals for medical assistance, unlike the main hospital in Apia that has all the materials needed. Thats is why we decided to lend a helping hand," she said.

A registered nurse who is also a midwife at the Lufilufi Health Centre, Lagi Pamata said their clinic often relies on donations. 

"This health facility depends on donations from the non-government organisations and church to improve the service. The gift from the SDA women's group is helpful as most of the time, we have patients coming in unprepared, and we have to provide them with proper materials to use but sometimes we run out of sheets and pillows," she said.

"Fortunately, we look at this donation as a huge help to avoid that issue."

Over 20 people are currently working at the Lufilufi Health Centre including nurses and midwives, one doctor, two cleaners and two security officers. Ms. Pamata said most of the people admitted to their local hospital are the ones with serious illnesses which are caused by unhealthy diet. 

The women of the Vaimauga and Anoamaa zone colored the clinic with their purple uniform that demonstrates oneness, and they represented thousands of Toreka members in both Upolu and Savaii.