Congratulations To all the mothers Of babies born On first day Of New Year
Today we congratulate the 45 women who gave birth to babies on the first day of 2021. Among them was Police Constable Litia Namakadre who was on duty during the lockdown because of the COVID-19 community transmission threat in Vanua Levu. She was at a delicate stage of her pregnancy but endured 12-hour shifts at checkpoints. On Friday she and husband Viliame Sivo got their perfect New Year’s gift, their only boy. The three older children are girls.
The euphoria over the 45 babies overshadow the crisis the country is going through right now.
They will grow up and get used to a Fiji living in the environment of a new normal because of the impact of COVID-19 and climate change.
They will learn from history the Fiji before COVID-19 and make their mental comparison about the different stages of the country’s development.
Their future will depend on how they are nurtured and raised in their respective families.
One thing they will learn early is resilience - the fact that their older folks had been ravaged by cyclones and floods and survived. Every time it happened they had bounced back
They will learn how the people of Bua and parts of Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Lomaiviti and Lau rose from the rubble and ruins and rebuilt stronger after Cyclone Yasa.
They will have to be stronger than the older generation to face the full force of wild weather events caused by climate change.
At the same time they would have to cope with challenges brought by COVID-19. It is not known how long it will take to eradicate the killer virus.
Apart from the health impact the other concern is the economic impact.
While we have been spared on the community transmission front, thanks to the vigilance of our frontline staff, we have suffered on the economic front because of the border closure.
It is possible that when the babies grow to an age where they can make sense of what’s going on, the situation may have improved.
But for the time being, at least for the next three years, they need all the care and love, which no doubt they will get from their parents.
We wish them and their families all the best for 2021.