Leaders urged to ensure children realise need to nutrition
The Minister for Defence, National Security and Foreign Affairs, Inia Seruiratu urges all Government leaders to ensure that all children and mothers realise their need to food and nutrition.
Mr Seruiratu highlighted this when opening the 2019 Pacific Early Childhood Development (ECD) Forum at the Sheraton Fiji Resort in Nadi with the theme: ‘Implementing Pasifika Call to Action on ECD’.
The forum which is hosted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is attended by 145 Government leaders from the education, finance, health and social welfare sectors from 15 countries.
Mr Seruiratu said there were still some families in disadvantaged circumstances that needed support to be able to realise the full potential of their children. “Education ministries need to work closely with health and nutrition, social welfare, child protection and finance to develop comprehensive national programmes that reach everyone especially those in disadvantaged communities,” he said.
“I urge us to ensure that every child, adolescent, mother or family realise their need to food and nutrition to reach their full potential and safe sustainable and comprehensive societies.”
He said the Fijian Government remained committed to the equality and inclusivity for all citizens especially for children.
“Fiji like many other Pacific Island countries are stepping up and making bolder and better investments in young children,” he added.
Climate change and early childhood development
Mr Seruiratu said more was needed to be done when dealing with climate change.
“We need to be doing much more, early childhood development investments are even more critical as we come face to face with the impacts of climate change,” Mr Seruiratu said. “Our children’s vulnerability to climate change fundamentally threatens the realisation of many if not all of their rights.” The forum ends tomorrow.