CAPTION: Residents of Jittu Estate utilising the Ministry of Health’s NCD bus.
1. HEALTH MINISTRY MARKS PUBLIC SERVICE DAY– The Ministry of Health today took its services to people’s doorsteps to mark Public Service Day.
2. MINISTRY ENCOURAGES REGISTERATION OF WOMEN’S GROUP– Women’s group around Fiji are being encouraged by the Ministry of Women to register in order to benefit from the different assistance programmes available to them.
3. YOUTH MINISTRY PUBLIC SERVICE DAY A SUCCESS– Ministry of Youth and Sports received a pleasing and positive response from members of the public in commemoration of Public Service Day today.
4. STUDENTS MAKE USE OF PUBLIC SERVICE DAY– The Ministry of Fisheries today received substantial enquiries regarding career paths in the fisheries sector from secondary school students.
1. HEALTH MINISTRY MARKS PUBLIC SERVICE DAY
The Ministry of Health today took its services to people’s doorsteps to mark Public Service Day.
Close to five thousand people benefitted for health services provided by the newly launched NCD (Non Communicable Diseases) bus which was taken to Valelevu HART, Nabua, Raiwaqa and Raiwai, Sports city, Flea market and the Government Referral Centre.
Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma said medical staff including doctors, nurses, dentists and health inspectors visited these place in the NCD bus and provided free medical checkups.
Free medical check-up included sugar check-up, blood pressure, cholesterol checks, height and weight match, pap smear tests, family planning, oral health and sexual and reproductive health services.
“With this NCD bus, we will continue to stress to people at the grassroots level about the important role they could play in ensuring they are not prone to NCDs,” Dr Sharma said.
“We have high incidences of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension; as a consequence we have high incidence of cancer,” he added.
Dr Sharma said individuals continued to deny they were suffering from diabetes and turned to traditional measures without results.
“The NCD bus will be taken to remote areas so that it becomes easier for people to access health services and at the same time receive free medical advice as well,” Dr Sharma said.
The NCD bus has compartments to cater for doctors, nurses, dentists, health inspectors and other health professionals who all can visit an area at any point in time.
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2. MINISTRY ENCOURAGES REGISTERATION OF WOMEN’S GROUP
Women’s group around Fiji are being encouraged by the Ministry of Women to register in order to benefit from the different assistance programmes available to them.
Senior women’s interest officer Raijieli Mawa on the occasion of Public Service Day said, “If you haven’t got a women’s group in your village or district, it would be appropriate to get registered with the Ministry or by getting in touch with a ministry of women’s representative in your area.”
Ms Mawa reiterated that the Ministry does not discriminate any race, religion or denomination and has urged women throughout the country to become part of the Ministry network.
“We can register all kinds of women’s group like mothers of any particular schools, women groups from various denominations to name a few.”
Ms Mawa said registration of groups was important for the Ministry to keep track of existing locations, specialty areas of each group and plans for activities by the group.
“We have our representatives in various municipal towns and women need to contact them for faster services,” Ms Mawa added.
The Ministry of Women’s Plan of Action includes gender mainstreaming, micro-enterprise development and violence against women and children.
The Ministry has called on women to indulge in small businesses in line with the aim to eradicate poverty and growing the economy as advocated by the Peoples Charter for Change Peace and Progress.
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3. YOUTH MINISTRY PUBLIC SERVICE DAY A SUCCESS
Ministry of Youth and Sports received a pleasing and positive response from members of the public in commemoration of Public Service Day today.
Permanent secretary Mr Josefa Sania took the lead role in escorting visitors through the Ministry headquarters at Nasoqo House so that people could take advantage of their displays as well as obtain firsthand information on their programmes.
“The Day’s programme went well and the public turned out in numbers to take advantage of our displays. Our building were fully opened for the public and students and youths used this opportunity to obtain information about the services offered by the Ministry ,” Mr Sania said.
Students of Gospel High School, Saint Joseph Secondary, Holy Trinity and Suva Vocational Centre were invited as special guests to participate in the programme.
“ The city wheelbarrow boys who were the first guests at the Ministry, received special packages from director Youth and Sports, Mr William Naisara,” Mr Sania added.
“The National Youth Band also provided entertainment for visitors.”
Suva Vocational Centre staff Mr John Ah Tong commended the senior staff of the Ministry for the wonderful services and reception given to them.
Meanwhile, the deputy head girl of Holy Trinity high school, Raaya Vandhana Singh said it was an opportune time for all students to learn more about services provided by Government to develop youth and sports in the country.
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4. STUDENTS MAKE USE OF PUBLIC SERVICE DAY
The Ministry of Fisheries today received substantial enquiries regarding career paths in the fisheries sector from secondary school students.
Marking Public Service Day, senior fisheries research officer, Sunia Waqainabete said most visits to their displays were by students requesting information about processes involved in seeking employment with the Fisheries Department.
“We received a lot of students who enquired about the subjects that they needed to take or study for a career in the fisheries sector,” Mr Waqainabete said.
“Secondary school students also enquired about the processes involved in seeking employment with the Fisheries Department.”
He added that the department took the opportunity presented by the Day to educate the public about reef replenishment initiatives.
“The department in displaying the various services, roles and activities is also educating the public on the reef replenishment initiative which is similar to the plant a million trees campaign,” Mr Waqainabete said.
“In introducing this initiative to the public, the department would like to encourage everyone to plant mangroves and coral so that our coral reefs remain enriched for our future generation.”
In addition, Mr Waqainabete said the fisheries resources have depleted over the years due to overexploitation.
Services that were on showcase from the department included seaweed farms and tilapia displays from the Naduruloulou and Galoa research stations.
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