Families, ministry staff praised for care of the elderly
The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa, has commended families who continue to take care of their loved ones in their very own homes.
Ms Vuniwaqa made this comment while officiating as chief guest during the celebration of the International Day of Older Persons with the 56 residents of the Golden Age Home at Natabua, Lautoka, yesterday.
“A lot of our citizens are being taken care in our own homes and I salute those families for taking that honor and privilege to looking after your loved ones in their twilight years,” she said.
“It calls for love and compassion it calls for a community that understands the plight our elderly citizens are living through today.” Mrs Vuniwaqa applauded her team were based in the Western Division for carrying out their duties with love and compassion. “It is always good for me as the minister when I hear compliments about the services that you deliver at the various stations that you serve in,” she tearfully said.
“As the minister I am isolated in an office on the 5th floor of the building, but when I get to hear from members of the public from important people in communities around Fiji praising you for the hard work that you do, I am grateful and I thank you.
“I’ve always said when you join this ministry as an officer serving in the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, and taking into account the core groups of Fijian people that we do serve, a degree is not as important as love and compassion and that you deliver day in and day out in the delivery of your services at the Golden Age Home.”
She acknowledged her team for going beyond their job description and adding more love and compassion with it.