CAPTION: Ambassador Robin Nair receives the donation from Ramesh Ravindranath of UAE Exchange.
1. FOREIGN EXCHANGE COMPANY DONATES TO FIJI EMBASSY – The UAE Exchange, one of the leading global remittance and exchange houses this week presented a donation to Fiji’s embassy in the United Arab Emirates for those that were affected by the recent cyclone in the country.
2. EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN MUST NOT BE DISCRMINATORY – The growing partnership between government and relevant key agencies especially those working to protect and promote the rights of women in the country continue to gain momentum.
3. MINISTER URGES HEALTH STAFF TO BE EFFICIENT – Health officials serving in the Northern division have been urged to be more efficient in service delivery and to change their attitudes when dealing with patients and stakeholders.
4. REHAB CONSTRUCTION WORK IN NADI TO START IN FEB – The District Officer for Nadi town, Peni Koro is optimistic that rehabilitation works for damaged homes in Nadi will start in February once all logistics are finalised.
1 FOREIGN EXCHANGE COMPANY DONATES TO FIJI EMBASSY
The UAE Exchange, one of the leading global remittance and exchange houses this week presented a donation to Fiji’s embassy in the United Arab Emirates for those that were affected by the recent cyclone in the country.
The UAE Exchange presented AED 10,000 to Fiji’s resident Ambassador in Abu Dhabi, Robin Nair who in return thanked the company for their support towards rehabilitating the lives of those that were severely affected during the tropical cyclone.
“We are indeed grateful to Managing Director Dr. B. R. Shetty, of UAE Exchange and NMC Group of Hospitals for their kind effort and compassion towards this worthy cause. Indeed Dr Shetty is well-known for his philanthropy”, Ambassador Nair added.
In presenting the donation, UAE Exchange manager business relations Mr Ramesh Ravindranath said that the company felt obliged to provide to the cause especially since the company had operations in the country.
The embassy is also organising other side events to raise funds for those affected by the tropical cyclone and is liaising with relevant agencies and organisations in the UAE for this.
Based in the Emirates, the UAE Exchange operates in 22 countries, including Fiji.
-ENDS-
2 EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN MUST NOT BE DISCRMINATORY
The growing partnership between government and relevant key agencies especially those working to protect and promote the rights of women in the country continue to gain momentum.
Whilst addressing advisory members from various women NGO’s in the country, Minister for Women Dr Jiko Luveni highlighted their role as advocates for women and the benefits of government’s programmes for women in Fiji.
“As this is the first meeting in 2013, you as advisory members of the Ministry should be knowledgeable of what the government is doing and act as advocates to your communities” Dr Luveni said.
Dr Jiko Luveni reiterated government’s stance that assistance programmes for women across the country must not be discriminatory in nature.
“Government’s assistance programmes is designed to benefit all women, irrespective of their religion or race in villages and settlements”, Minister Luveni said.
“We will increase the assistance coverage in 2013. In 2012, we were able to give to so many NGOs and now there is an increased interest to have the same kind of projects given to them. There will be many more NGO’s benefiting from our income generating activities”.
In her remarks, Minister Luveni encouraged the leaders of women organisations to ensure that goals are set and to work towards achieving those goals for a successful year.
-ENDS-
3 MINISTER URGES HEALTH STAFF TO BE EFFICIENT
Health officials serving in the Northern division have been urged to be more efficient in service delivery and to change their attitudes when dealing with patients and stakeholders.
This was relayed by the Minister for Health Doctor Neil Sharma as he continues his tour of various nursing stations and health centres in the northern division.
“We need to be customer focused and ensure that the provision of services to the public remains a priority and is provided on a timely basis”, the Minister said.
Dr Sharma highlighted that in the past he had received complaints of staff not being courteous towards patients which he stressed will no longer be tolerated.
“If we are punctual to work, we will be efficient in our service delivery and we will be able to deliver the outputs for the ministry and ensuring better health service is delivered to the people”,.
A key output for the Ministry of Health for this year is the improvement of management and administrative functions to ensure that consistent services are provided to the public.
-ENDS-
4 REHAB CONSTRUCTION WORK IN NADI TO START IN FEB
The District Officer for Nadi town, Peni Koro has confirmed that rehabilitation works for damaged homes in Nadi will start in February once all logistics are finalised.
Following the destruction of Tropical Cyclone Evan, a significant number of homes in the western division were either partially damaged or totally destroyed. In response to this, government introduced a housing policy calling for home owners to register for assistance to their homes or properties.
“The most affected areas in Nadi are Votualevu and Sabeto. The rehab process is on going with the first stage completed which is the survey and then costs are submitted to us,” Koro said.
Sabeto Central School head teacher Arvin Reddy said that despite the damages to the school and surrounding properties, there is optimism for the students and staff at the school.
“First I would like to thank the Prime Minister’s Office for sending the people here so that people know at least the problem that we are facing here. In fact it took us a lot of time to erect the tents but without the military we wouldn’t have been able to do this,” Mr Reddy said.
“I am optimistic that we could be starting the renovation work very soon even though the whole building is under OHS status at the moment,” he said.
-ENDS-