FRIDAY MARCH 5, 2021 l 16 PAGES l ISSUE 3 VOL 12 l WWW.FIJI.GOV.FJ Fijijj Focus Hospital ensures faster services for rural dwellers The opening of the new $30 million Navosa Sub-Divisional Hospital has brought access to medical services right to their doorstep. Full details: Inside. Photos: MEREANI GONEDUA HEALTH MEREANI GONEDUA now be easier than what they had their doorstep. “Those were the days where we Sigatoka. been enduring for decades. Lusiana Nayara, 45, recalled struggled and had to travel ear- “It was hard then but now with LIFELINEIFE for more than 10,000 The opening of the new $30 mil- her days when she was pregnant lier then our due date because we the opening of the State-of-the-art Fijians living in the prov- lion Navosa Sub-Divisional Hos- and had to travel one month in were travelling for more than five ince of Nadroga, Navosa pital in Keiyasi, has brought ac- advance before she would give to six hours to get to the Koro- L CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 and in the highlands of Ba will cess to medical services right to birth. mumu Sub-Divisional Hospital in email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj NATIONAL MATTERS phone: 3301806 INSIDE Digital HEALTH MINISTRY RECEIVES TIMELY BOOST - 13 PAY YOUR RATES: KUMAR - 12 health VILLAGERS REASSURED OF NEW RELOCATION SITE - 11 REAL ESTATE AGENTS URGED TO MAINTAIN Developer of the Pasifika Heartbeat app Rakin Wahed (left) and Minister for PROFESSIONALISM - 10 platform Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport, Faiyaz Koya during the launch of the Pasifika Heartbeat app at the Fiji National University Pasifika Campus Auditorium. Photo: FELIX LESINAIVALU QUOTE OF THE WEEK the Pasifika Heartbeat app, Rakin vate health clinics, pharmacies, Wahed, saying that the innovator and hospitals. It will potentially launched had provided a solution for Fiji- connect the public to the medical FELIX LESINAIVALU 2006 and is a student at the Uni- ans to adapt to the digital age and professionals. versity of the South Pacific stud- enable them to have easy access Minister Koya said the app im- eveloper of the Pasifika ying Marketing and Tourism. to valuable information. proves connectivity between ur- Voreqe Heartbeat app, Rakin While officiating at the launch, “Mr Wahed is a passionate ban and rural areas, enhancing Bainimarama. DWahed, believes that one the Minister for Commerce, young Fijian, who started this service delivery and promoting day Fijians would be able to get Trade, Tourism and Transport, project on his own. We are glad innovation. Today, in the face of healthy information easier, which Faiyaz Koya said the Pasifika that the Ministry through the “This connectivity is made bet- climate and ocean crisis led him to the idea of the app. Heartbeat app is a great example Young Entrepreneurship Scheme ter due to the excellent IT and and the economic crisis During the launch of the Pasi- of how Fijians are exploring op- (YES) was able to provide sup- mobile infrastructure that we fika Heartbeat app at the Fiji portunities to make information port of $12,000, which as we can have in Fiji and the fact that 95 that the COVID-19 National University Pasifika services available to Fijians. see today, has enabled him to percent of our population is con- pandemic has brought Campus Auditorium, Mr Wahed “Each time I see our youth suc- host the app online.” nected to these services.” upon us, solidarity is still said, “everyone has a spark, and ceed in their business ventures, I The Pasifika Heartbeat app pro- “The Fijian Government con- our best recourse. mine started in 2016 when I was feel very proud and at the same, vides a digital health platform of tinues to invest in youth to em- in form six”. confident that Fiji’s future is in valuable information, which in- power Fijians with digital skills Voreqe Bainimarama Originally from Bangladesh, the right hands.” cludes geo-location of the health- and technology.” Prime Minister Mr Wahed has lived in Fiji since He also praised the founder of care institutions – public and pri- NUMBERS 400 community awareness programmes was conducted by National Fire Authority in 2019 with nearly 26,000 house-to- house visits and 500 programmes conducted in schools. TWEET OF THE WEEK Frank Bainimarama@FijiPM Fiji has lost a dear friend with Newly-inducted prefects of Namaka Public School in Nadi. Photo: MEREANI GONEDUA the passing of former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare. He was more than PNG’s Nurture children’s leadership, minister urges teachers founding father, his legacy as MEREANI GONEDUA an architect of regional unity Minister Akbar highlighted that the notion of order to progress in your leadership career is to lives on in the hearts of all HE Minister for Education, Heritage unity should be taught in schools and urged the listen to your parents. You should never forget Pacific people. I deeply regret and Arts Rosy Akbar has urged teach- teachers to teach their children about the right the sacrifices they have made. that I cannot be in PNG to pay Ters of Namaka Public School, Nadi, to path in life. Minister Akbar highlighted that the parents my respects. nurture the leadership talents in their school. “Unity in schools, in your communities is sacrifice a lot in order to send their children Officiating at the school’s prefect’s induction very important and as teachers you should be to school and students need to learn to always CONTACT DETAILS recently, Minister Akbar stressed the impor- promoting unity in your classrooms and this be thankful. MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS tance of teachers’ roles in schools and urged is the first step towards having a unified Fiji. “The Fijian Government has also provided a Main office: New Wing, Ground Floor, Government them to identify the various talents in students. The Minister informed the more than 100 stu- number of initiatives in order to assist parents Buildings,Suva “Your role is to nurture that leadership talent. dent prefects that their role was also important and the whole idea is that we do not want par- North office: Level 3 Macuata House, Labasa West office: Level 1 Ratu Nauliano House, Koroivalu Your role is to identify the special talent that given that they have been chosen to be leaders. ents to fork out more money as we understand all these kids have. Everybody is different, you Meanwhile, the Minister also officiated at the times are difficult.” Contacts: Suva: 3301806 West: 6700086 all are different, you must teach the younger Ba Sanatan College prefect’s induction where Minister Akbar also congratulated the stu- North: 8811276 generation that while we are different, we must she reminded them to never forget the sacri- dents for their pass rate last year and encour- Fax: 3305139/3304663 [email protected] accept others differences and that is very im- fices made by their parents. aged the teachers to continue with their good @FijianGovt portant. “One of the things that you need to know in work. Fijian Government visit us at www.fiji.gov.fj 2 Friday, March 5, 2021 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 NATIONAL MATTERS Health lifeline FROM PAGE 1 COVID-19 vaccination facility, our younger generation will not have to travel like we did as services are just nearby.” “The hospital is just what we key to rejuveniting Fiji needed because now we are able SONAM SAMI said. Communications is working together with to have our x-rays done here, we “It is not an easy thing to do as most of the the Ministry of Health and Medical Servic- now have the birthing facility and ABINET has approved a new strat- larger countries in the world are also strug- es to ensure that we have a digital recording most importantly our families who egy for 2021-2022 budget with key gling with the supply but Fiji is also ready of those people who actually do get vacci- would come with us can also stay Cfocus on rejuvenating the economy to procure the vaccine and not simply rely- nated as a proof,” he said. in the other rooms provided for and the best way to get out of this is to en- ing on aid or grant,” he added. “Talks are also underway with develop- visitors. sure that all Fijians get vaccinated. In response to a question on curfew restric- ment partners to ensure that we get the sup- “We are just so grateful for all this The Attorney-General and Minister for tions, the A-G said, “it is the Ministry of ply of vaccines and at the moment ensure especially to our Prime Minister Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum high- Health’s call since there are various health that 70 percent of the population is vacci- and his Government for being able lighted this while noting that “the govern- protocols which needs to be met and as nated,” the A-G added. to bring this very important servic- ment has the fiscal capacity to pay for the we’ve said - the solution to many of these “People will feel a lot more secure, the es near us.” vaccinations which is in the process of pro- things is that we need to get the vaccination Government will feel a lot more secure to Meanwhile, Prime Minister curement”. done as quickly as possible and only then allow their citizens to come to Fiji for tour- Voreqe Bainimarama, while open- “The COVID-19 vaccines will be made can the Ministry of Health be able to advise ism purposes and we will also feel secure to ing the hospital, said that the new available soon and the Government is very us as to how and what can be done with the accept people from those countries of vac- hospital will serve 26 villages, 58 much leading at the forefront through our curfew hours but our foremost priority is to cination which will rejuvenate our econo- settlements, 11 kindergartens, and Prime Minister in respect of ensuring that ensure Fiji is COVID contained”.