‘Teach children value of water’
The value of water is important because you use it to start and end the day.
FIJIANS need to teach children the value of water and also understand the importance it brings to their daily lives. Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services permanent secretary Taitusi Vakadravuyaca highlighted this during the World Water Day celebrations at Kshatriya Hall in Suva. “It is not only the responsibility of the Water Authority of Fiji, or the Department of Environment, it is the responsibility of every Fijian citizen to ensure that we give value to water.” “In bringing the value of water home, we use rivers to get access to water and the Waimanu River is one of these rivers. However, the quality of the water has been degrading due to pollution from us, the people, natural disasters, and climate change,” Mr Vakadravuyaca said. He added that when water does not come through the pipes people will go looking for other sources of water, and it would not be safe for drinking.
“The value of water is important because you use it to start and end the day,” he said.
This year’s theme is “Valuing Water” and brings attention to the 2.2 billion people living globally without access to safe water.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Pacific representative Sheldon Yett said; “Valuing and understanding the importance of water is critical to ensure equal access for all to clean drinking water.”
“We thank the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services, and partners, for joining us and using the World Water Day as an opportunity to take action on the issue of water security in the Pacific.”
Children from nine schools took part in contests organised by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Meteorological Services and UNICEF to mark the day.
The event was supported by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Ministry for Lands and Mineral Resources, Water Authority of Fiji, Save the Children, Live and Learn, Pleass Global Limited, Rotary Pacific Water, Habitat for Humanity Fiji and Partners in Community Development Fiji.