- FIJIAN SPORTS MINISTER WELCOMES FIJI NETBALL CHAMPIONS – The Minister for Youth and Sports, Viliame Naupoto has congratulated the Fiji Pearls netball team for winning the 2014 Pacific netball series in Cook Islands this week.
- WOMEN DESIGNERS AND MODELS LAUNCHED FOR EXPO – Women designers that reside in rural communities are one step closer in showcasing their talent with the contribution from Life Insurance Corporation India (LICI) of $15, 000 in sponsorship.
- SENIOR CITIZENS SHOULD BE RECOGNISED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO FIJI – Senior citizens should be recognised for their contributions to the country and they should not be forgotten.
- HEALTH MINISTRY LAUNCHES HIV GUIDELINES – The Health Ministry today launched the Antiretroviral (ARV) care and treatment guideline and Prevention of Parent to Child (PPTCT) policy for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
1 FIJIAN SPORTS MINISTER WELCOMES FIJI NETBALL CHAMPIONS
The Minister for Youth and Sports, Viliame Naupoto has congratulated the Fiji Pearls netball team for winning the 2014 Pacific netball series in Cook Islands this week.
Meeting the team at the Nadi international airport this morning, Minister Naupoto said that the Fiji Pearls had performed well and that their success could only be credited to the hard work and teamwork.
“We are very proud of you,” Minister Naupoto said.
“The news of your achievement has come as a great delight to all Fijians. All your hard work, commitment and practice has paid off.”
The Julie Hoornweg-coached side won all their six games in the series and have qualified to take part in the World Netball Championship in Sydney, Australia next year.
Minister Naupoto also wished the Fiji Pearls well in their preparations for the World Netball Championship next year.
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2 WOMEN DESIGNERS AND MODELS LAUNCHED FOR EXPO
Women designers that reside in rural communities are one step closer in showcasing their talent with the contribution from Life Insurance Corporation India (LICI) of $15, 000 in sponsorship.
“We believe that women in rural communities have a lot of talent and we want to expose them with the hope that they can get a break in the market, to have their designs recognised,” said the Ministry of Social Welfare director Mr Rupeni Fatiaki added.”
“We are looking at bringing women from rural areas not only for this program but also on our ability to help and empower them in other areas and this can only happen through partnership with other stakeholders.”
LICI General Manager Fiji Operations, Mr Vimlesh Kumar expressed his appreciation at being a part of the launch of the rural designs and models for the National Womens’ Expo.
“This will enable women to come forward and show their creativity, designs, talent and skills who would otherwise not come to the forefront and be seen with their product,” Mr Kumar said.
“We believe that there is a lot of scope for their products to be seen and sold outside Fiji which will enable them not to just help their family but also the community.”
International designer Mrs Christine Evans commended the ministry in providing the women with a sustainable livelihood and encouraged the stakeholders to help the women get avenues for their market.
The 2014 National Women’s Expo and Designer Awards will be held at Vodafone Arena from 6th to 8th of August this year.
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3 SENIOR CITIZENS SHOULD BE RECOGNISED FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO FIJI
Senior citizens should be recognised for their contributions to the country and they should not be forgotten.
This was relayed by the Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni at the opening of the “My Capital Treat” Initiative for Senior Citizens yesterday.
“Senior citizens should not be forgotten, isolated and we need to look after them recognise the contributions they have done to Fiji,” Dr Luveni said.
“My Capital Treat” is a new initiative taken by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation to promote an inclusive and enabling society for the senior citizens in Fiji,” Dr Luveni said.
The Minister highlighted that the Ministry planned the event with the National Council for Older Persons that is responsible for the implementation of Fiji’s National Ageing Policy (2011 to 2015).
85 year old Rachael Fane of Father Law Home said she was thankful to government for providing senior citizens with this treat.
“This is an early Christmas for us at the home and we would like to acknowledge government for their efforts in promoting and inclusive environment for senior citizens,” Ms Fane said.
Sharing similar sentiments, 60 year old Saimoni Bebenisala acknowledged government for hosting an event to recognise the contributions senior citizens have made to the country.
“I am delighted to be part of this event, we hardly hosted to five star hotels like this one,” Mr Bebenisala said.
Dr Luveni said there is need for more attention towards the older age groups in society is a consequence of the unprecedented global phenomenon of population growth through which the world has more than doubled its population since 1960.
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4 HEALTH MINISTRY LAUNCHES HIV GUIDELINES
The Health Ministry today launched the Antiretroviral (ARV) care and treatment guideline and Prevention of Parent to Child (PPTCT) policy for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
This set of guidelines acts as a manual for health workers at divisional hospitals and sub-divisional health centers to provide care for PLHIV and proper use of ARV drugs.
The health care workers are expected to provide HIV counseling and testing services in the health care facilities to PLHIV. The guideline will also serve to train health care workers on proper drug regimen, monitoring and therapy services.
The Minister for Health, Dr Neil Sharma said the policy aims to provide access to services for all pregnant women such as HIV screening , pre and post-test counseling and counseling on infant feeding.
“To date, 98 percent of pregnant women counselled have been offered to take the HIV screenings. Since May 2012, all HIV positive pregnant women are offered Antiretroviral Therapy for life to protect mothers’ health and prevent infection to the infant. The need for prevention of transmission of HIV from parents to child is paramount for the ministry to achieve its targets of Zero new HIV infections,” Dr Sharma said.
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