Breaking the chain of poverty with business advice and help
Pharmacist Mita Vaka
Pharmacist Mita Vaka, the owner of Seini’s Pharmacy & Clinic in Tonga, is one determined woman. Determined to use her hard-won skills as a pharmacist to help her community and determined to break the chain of poverty in her own family.
Despite their concerns that Mita just didn’t have the business skills to make this work, she convinced her father and brother that she would learn, and the family would benefit from her endeavour. Mita established her pharmacy and clinic in her late mother’s name, Seini, and runs it out of her brother’s house built on family land in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. It is a careful balancing act between continuing her work with the Ministry of Health, endless hours in the clinic, and raising her two children.
I knew I had to change my mindset and realise I can do it. Even though I don’t have the experience of running a business, I just learned everything. I found books about running a business, I researched on the internet, and I found out about the special requirements for setting up a clinic and pharmacy. I also learned how to manage customers who come to the clinic sick and stressed – I make them a cup of tea and sit them down for a chat. The three years since I opened the clinic have been very challenging, but also very rewarding. It’s important that this business succeed.”
A key aspect of Mita’s business philosophy is to educate her customers about the importance of following the instructions on the packet of any prescribed drugs, and in the last two years to educate them about the importance of Covid-19 vaccinations and safety procedures such as mask-wearing, sanitising and social distancing to keep others safe from the virus.
Mita found out about Business Link Pacific and the possibility that they may be able to fund her plans through friends. She was put in touch with a BLP advisor who helped prepare and submit the application. The help she received to prepare a business plan, cash flow and other financial documents have proved very useful to Mita in the ongoing running of the clinic. She now understands the importance of daily recording of expenses and income and sticking to a budget.
My knowledge of business and processes has really improved with this experience. It has taken away a lot of the stress of business – I had no one helping before, but it was just a matter of asking someone who knows, and I can follow their advice.”
When Mita’s grant from Business Link Pacific arrived, she used it to upgrade her computer and to stock up on hand sanitiser, gloves and protective equipment she knew would be needed one day. That day came sooner than expected, with the first lockdown in Tonga announced just two weeks later.
The grant came just in time; we are so lucky we had the supplies and everything we needed for Covid. It was at this time that we really learned about the effect of managing such an infectious disease, and now our systems run smoothly to ensure clinic workers are also kept safe. With the benefit of the grant from BLP I was able to see what else I could do to help the people in my community.”
With several doctors volunteering their time to see patients in the evenings, and Mita opening at 7.30 am every day to a queue of customers, Seini’s Pharmacy & Clinic is filling a need in the community – and she loves every moment of it.
Thank you, BLP. It’s great to know you are out there helping businesses like mine. I’m so thankful for the business advice, the supplies and the computer equipment – it has made such a difference to our little clinic.”
The Finance Facility enables access to capital for stabilisation, recovery and growth of viable but financially distressed businesses in the Pacific Islands due to the impact of COVID-19 on the regional economy.
The Facility opened applications to Business Adaptation Grants across eight Pacific Island countries in January and June 2021. Adaptation Grants have benefitted over 200 businesses to date, and Business Link Pacific is currently processing a similar number of grants to be disbursed before the end of the year.
To further support recovery and growth, Business Link Pacific is negotiating key partnerships with Financial Institutions to offer concessionary lending to small businesses in the region and will soon make information available on accessing those products. The Finance Facility also offers curated information about financial products for businesses on its free online tool, the Finance Finder; visit today to find out what is available to your business right now.