1. KOREAN MISSIONARIES HONOURED POSTHUMOUSLY – The Fijian Government has honored posthumously the two Korean missionaries who drowned during their vocation at Nasikawa Vision College eight years ago. Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola this week honored the missionaries by presenting plaques to their parents in a moving ceremony in Seoul, Korea.
2. NURSES URGED TO SHOW CARE – The Minister for Health and Medical Services, Mr Jone Usamate has urged nurses to show care and compassion when treating patients. Minister Usamate relayed this message at the 58th Fiji Nursing Association Annual General Meeting at Civic Auditorium today.
3. YOUTH MINISTRY TO EXHIBIT PRODUCTS – The Ministry of Youth and Sports will display its services and products at the Government Services Centre in Suva for one week from Monday 20th April. Director Youth and Sports Mr William Naisara said; “As part of Government’s outreach program to promote and display its services, the Ministry will be at the Government Service Centre from Monday to Saturday next week to display its products and services.”
1. KOREAN MISSIONARIES HONOURED POSTHUMOUSLY
The Fijian Government has honored posthumously the two Korean missionaries who drowned during their vocation at Nasikawa Vision College eight years ago.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola this week honored the missionaries by presenting plaques to their parents in a moving ceremony in Seoul, Korea.
It was an emotional moment for Mr. Chang Yong Kang, Mrs Je-Suk Seo, Mr. Jung Yoon Kwon and Mrs Eun-Joo Kim.
The two missionaries tragically lost their lives while out swimming with students from Nasikawa Vision College on July 10, 1997.
They were part of a group of ten volunteers from Korea’s prestigious Handong Global University (HGU) who were selected to travel to Fiji to teach computer skills to high school students.
Minister Kubuabola while honouring the missionaries said Fiji had not forgotten the sacrifices they made particularly in their love for mission work and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“This is from the Government of Fiji to you; to let you know that we appreciate and continue to remember all the good work your sons carried out in Fiji especially to the lives of all those that knew them not only at Nasikawa Vision College but also in the province of Nadroga.”
“This is to commemorate their noble sacrifice. We believe that they sowed a seed with their faith,” he said.
Mr. Chang-Yong Kang said it was an honor to have his son recognized by the Government of Fiji.
“This will become my family treasure; to have it displayed in our house to remember our son’s sacrifices. I also thank God for His work and guidance in my son’s life,” Mr. Kang said.
Since the tragic incident in 1997, HGU of which Fiji’s Honorary Consular General (HCG) in Seoul Dr Chang Soon Heung is the President, erected a monument at the University to remember the lives of its former students it considers martyrs.
The monument which can be found at the entrance to the University has been named “The Fiji Memorial Square.”
A similar monument was also unveiled at Nasikawa Vision College last year by Fiji’s Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Filimone Kau and Fiji’s HGC in Seoul, Dr Chang.
The unfortunate incident has not stopped HGU from sending volunteers to Fiji insisting they have been blessed a thousand fold with the invaluable sacrifices of the late Kang and Kwon who left their humble abode in Korea to assist disadvantaged students in Fiji.
According to Dr Chang, the students displayed the spirit of love, service and sacrifice which are all fundamental values of HGU and are a continual challenge to students, staff and the administration of the university.
2. NURSES URGED TO SHOW CARE
The Minister for Health and Medical Services, Mr Jone Usamate has urged nurses to show care and compassion when treating patients.
Minister Usamate relayed this message at the 58th Fiji Nursing Association Annual General Meeting at Civic Auditorium today.
“The theme for the meeting – A Force for Change – Cost Effective and Care Effective can only be achieved by delivering the right results and rekindling the passion to show care to our patients and customers. There needs to be improvement in the performance of the health sector,” Usamate said.
The Minister said the Bainimarama Government has health as a priority and some of the changes made are the ‘Free Medicine’ initiative recently launched, extension of health care services and new health centres.
“Fiji and other Pacific Island countries are facing shortage of nurses and we are improving on that by increasing the intake of nurses every year and there will be structural changes for nurses to have a career path in specialist areas.”
He said that nurses should also be involved in the policy process of the health service delivery.
“Nurses play a key role as the backbone of infection control. We need nurses who are energetic and energize the rest of the people around them. They should have the edge to make different decisions and execute to deliver. Most importantly, they need to be empathetic and passionate towards their work and patients.”
3. YOUTH MINISTRY TO EXHIBIT PRODUCTS
The Ministry of Youth and Sports will display its services and products at the Government Services Centre in Suva for one week from Monday 20th April.
Director Youth and Sports Mr William Naisara said; “As part of Government’s outreach program to promote and display its services, the Ministry will be at the Government Service Centre from Monday to Saturday next week to display its products and services.”
“There will also be ministry officials available to meet and answer queries from the general public on any matter regarding the ministry or youth development,” said Mr Naisara.
Mr Naisara added that the Ministry will partner with its stakeholders the Fiji National Sports Commission, Fiji Sports Council and National Youth Council of Fiji next week.
He said that part of the display will be the selling of products from our youth training centre in Nasau, Sigatoka and also youth clubs in the central division from Thursday onwards.
The Ministry’s permanent secretary Mr Josefa Sania has extended the invitation to “young people and youth clubs to come and seek information and assistance next week at the booths.”
“The week-long exhibition will be an opportune time for youths to meet Ministry officials and if possible to meet their needs and answer their queries,” Mr Sania said.
“The Ministry this year has embarked on an outreach and consultation visits around rural areas in Fiji and we would like to continue to provide accessibility of services for our young people,” added Mr Sania.
The Ministry’s Youth Band from the Youth Training Centre in Valelevu will also be providing free entertainment during the week-long exhibition.