Northern District Advisory Councillors Urged to Stop Spread of Misinformation

District Advisory Council members in the Northern Division have been urged to help fight the spread of misinformation against Fiji’s COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Inia Seruiratu met the council members for the provinces of Macuata, Bua and Cakaudrove this week.

Mr Seruiratu said: “There’s a lot of misinformation going around on social media that has created fear in the people and I think for all of us, it’s important to be vaccinated.”

He said he similarly urged the Central Division that as part of recovery and return to normalcy, people must be vaccinated.

“Just like measles, and all other infectious diseases that have come Fiji’s way, this is not an exception and we are kindly inviting all of you to urge your community members to be vaccinated,” Mr Seruiratu said.

Pivotal role

Further to his meeting with the advisory councillors, Seruiratu said they played a pivotal role in gathering data from their communities that would assist Government in working with its development partners.

“Governance is very important for us. Right now we have the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the office. Let me emphasise this – we are connected to the global issues and what drives global issues are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the implementation of these SDGs, what’s important is data,” Mr Seruitatu said.

He said a lot of activities were conducted, but information was not captured and that was a challenge for developing countries like Fiji. He said the ministry was trying to improve on that and advisory councillors were requested to provide reports and if there’ll be surveys, he hoped they will cooperate. He reiterated that Government had appointed them as development partners to assist in its development programmes.

Mr Seruiratu conveyed Government’s acknowledgements for the commitment and dedication shown by members through their service to their communities.

Mr Seruiratu was accompanied by his two Assistant Ministers Jale Sigarara and Vijay Nath

They were expected to meet advisory council members in Bua yesterday.

Photo: Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Inia Seruiratu with senior Government officials and District Advisory Councillors serving in communities within the Cakaudrove Province after the opening of their meeting in Savusavu on April 14, 2021.