- IMPAIRMENT ASSESSMENT TRAINING TO EXPEDITE COMPENSATION CASES – A total of 30 doctors from various hospitals and general practice throughout Fiji are currently undergoing training on ‘Permanent Impairment Assessment’ organised by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.
- GLOBAL AGENCY VISITS FIJI AHEAD OF CANCER UNIT OPENING – Representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are visiting Fiji to assist Health authorities in preparation for the establishment of a new cancer facility.
- GLOBAL COMMITMENT TO ASSIST IN FIJI RURAL AND MARITIME DEVELOPMENT – Representatives from the various villages in the Naitasiri Province have been encouraged to focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) set by the United Nations to boost economic growth in the province.
- SUCCESS FOR REGISTERED GRADUATES AT EMPLOYMENT CENTRE – A significant percentage of unemployed graduates who had registered with the National Employment Centre earlier this year have successfully found employment.
1 IMPAIRMENT ASSESSMENT TRAINING TO EXPEDITE COMPENSATION CASES
A total of 30 doctors from various hospitals and general practice throughout Fiji are currently undergoing training on ‘Permanent Impairment Assessment’ organised by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.
The four day training, which began this morning, is taking place at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva.
The Ministry’s acting permanent secretary, Vilimone Baledrokadroka said the trained doctors will assist the ministry in the assessment of work related injuries and death which will reduce the backlog of compensation cases of previous years.
The training is part of the Ministry’s commitment to complete the Workmen’s Compensation Reform and fulfilment of Government’s commitment under the Peoples Charter of Change, Peace and Progress to strengthen the Ministry’s social protection and social security regime by working towards replacing the Ministry’s outdated workers compensation system.
Mr Baledrokadroka said the reformed system is designed to provide better health care and social security for injured workers and dependants of deceased workers, with strong governance features to provide social justice and at the same time effectively contribute towards alleviating poverty in this area.
“The training will develop the knowledge, skills and competencies of medical practitioners in Fiji in the evaluating work-related permanent impairment of injured persons using International Standards such as the America Medical Association Guides (AMA5) and the Fiji Workcare Guide for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.
“At the same time it will build the professional capacity of the Ministry’s OHS and Worker’s Compensation Officers who have been involved in promoting OHS risk management and assessing workers compensation cases relating to occupational diseases,” Mr Baledrokadroka said.
For this very important training the Ministry has again secured the services of Dr Dwight Dowda, a renowned Occupational Medicine Specialist from Sydney. Dr Dowda has been actively involved in the training of our medical assessors and has played an important part in the documentation of the Ministry’s Assessment Manual.
“Out of 666 Medical Officers in practice the Ministry has trained 88 with 31 doctors now actively involved in conducting assessments. We will be training more doctors to raise their competency and consistency in their assessment of cases,” Mr Baledrokadroka said.
-ENDS-
2 GLOBAL AGENCY VISITS FIJI AHEAD OF CANCER UNIT OPENING
Representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are visiting Fiji to assist Health authorities in preparation for the establishment of a new cancer facility.
The 8-member team be advising and assisting the Health Ministry by reviewing the current status and carrying out an assessment of cancer, which is third most common cause of death in Fiji.
This is in line with the Health Ministry’s commitment towards the development of an Oncology center/cancer hospital.
Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma said “The setting up of a radio oncology center will centralize all the relevant treatment and management of cancer cases with a conducive environment for patients and families”.
“This center will have radiotherapy facilities and overseas referrals will be minimized this saving cost for government as far as overseas referrals are concerned”.
The IAEA representatives will engage in an Integrated Mission of Program of Action for Cancer Therapy (imPACT) during their visit.
Through this a comprehensive assessment will look at areas of cancer control planning, cancer information and registration, prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, palliative care, education and training.
The eight expert representatives from the IAEA will be in the country until March 28, 2014.
A report will be submitted to the Health Ministry on the preliminary findings by the IAEA representatives at the end of the Integrated Mission of Program of action for Cancer Therapy (imPACT).
-ENDS-
3 GLOBAL COMMITMENT TO ASSIST IN FIJI RURAL AND MARITIME DEVELOPMENT
Representatives from the various villages in the Naitasiri Province have been encouraged to focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) set by the United Nations to boost economic growth in the province.
This was relayed by the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development permanent secretary Filipe Alifereti at the beginning of the Naitasiri Provincial Meeting in Vunidawa today.
Mr Alifereti said Government’s focus is to develop an Integrated Development Structure at divisional level and to improve the standard of living for all Fijians.
“Government has spent total of $26million in capital projects for the development of 16 villages in the Naitasiri province,” Mr. Alifereti said.
“Government will continue to provide assistance for the province however, we need the support from the people to fully utilise the services that has been provided,” Mr Alifereti said.
The Roko Tui Naitasiri Joeli Navanikoso urged representatives from the various villages to support government in their continuous efforts to improve the livelihood every Fijian.
Meanwhile, Naitasiri Provincial Administrator Semi Kuru said there are ongoing projects that currently under way include the renovation of some schools, water supply upgrading and access to the FEA grid extension. He said that road accessibility is a major area that requires attention from relevant bodies.
With ongoing projects taking place in the province, Mr Alifereti said that roads will provide easier access to essential services and also boost economic development.
-ENDS-
5 SUCCESS FOR REGISTERED GRADUATES AT EMPLOYMENT CENTRE
A significant percentage of unemployed graduates who had registered with the National Employment Centre earlier this year have successfully found employment.
Fiji’s Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Mr Jone Usamate said that the results of an analysis conducted by the Ministry indicate that more than 40% of those registered with the centre have now found employment.
“This was a very significant sign, and thus corresponded with the positive growth data recently released by the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF),” the Minister said.
He noted that the RBF also released statistics that show that the number of job advertisements has increased considerably.
“This showed that more jobs were coming on line, and thus more opportunities were being made available,” he said
“And it is also noted that the number of new entrants into FNPF is higher than the number of those leaving FNPF.”
“These two trends show that job prospects are improving and that more jobs are available on the market. This information is complemented by our own Ministry data that shows that 40% of graduates who were registered as unemployed have now become employed. All this augurs well for Fiji,” said the Minister.
“Fiji has recorded positive economic growth rates for the past 4 years and is forecast to have maintain a positive growth in 2014 and 2015.”
He highlighted that various policies and strategies implemented through Government with the intention of growing Fiji’s economy and provide employment opportunities are working.
He commended the significant achievement as it has contributed to alleviating poverty for the people of Fiji as committed under Pillar 8 of the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress (PCCPP).
MINFO