The operator of Tonga’s most successful rehabilitation program says the government has allegedly demanded he start paying rent for using the Teufaiva National Stadium gym, a move that could threaten his life-changing work.
Sione Takataka, also known as JT Takataka, the man behind the highly acclaimed program, has helped many regain mobility through his services, but the new rent demand threatens its future.
His regular Facebook live streams show patients arriving in wheelchairs or supported by family members, only to later walk out on their own and thank him for their recovery.
“The record shows 71 people have been successfully rehabilitated”, Takataka told Kaniva News in Tongan.
He said a previous agreement with a former minister allowed him to use the gym in exchange for $95,100 worth of renovations, money he may never recover if forced to pay rent.
“I can’t turn my back and leave these people to die in Tonga,” Takataka, who was residing in the US before recently moving to Tonga, said, emphasising his commitment to his patients.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, overseeing the Teufaiva Stadium, could not be reached for comment.
Hope for reconsideration
For now, he remains focused on helping those in need but hopes the government will reconsider its decision.
The rehabilitation program has been seen as a lifeline for those who had been waiting for death.
People have praised Takataka on social media, with many sending him gifts, especially equipment to support the program.
Gift from the Queen
One such gift came from Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u, which was an Isodynamics Reviver device.
This advanced equipment uses proprietary technology to trigger automatic muscle contractions, aid movement, and generate neuromodulation to treat neuromuscular diseases through targeted exercises.
The rehabilitation program is also seen as a vital solution in the government’s fight against diabetes, which affects 18 per cent of Tonga’s 120,000 population.
A recent survey confirmed this figure, while also revealing that 80% of Tongans face significant health problems.
The report warned that “lifestyle-related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) will become the leading cause of disease burden in Tonga unless interventions are implemented to slow or reverse this trend.”
