REACH program to assist people in the interior of Tavua
The Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion for Rural and Urban Fijians Project (REACH) highlights the importance of the services that the key partners of the project deliver for the Fijian people. Some Fijians weren’t aware of the services that were made available to them by the Government due to geographical isolation and physical challenges.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar, while officiating at REACH Project at Rakavidi Settlement, Wainivoce Settlement, Koro Village and Davota Village in the interior of Tavua.
Minister Akbar stated that the Fijian Government was committed to improving service delivery for all Fijians through innovative service delivery methods.
“The REACH platform is one of the Government’s innovative methods to improve service delivery for all Fijians, and through this platform, information and related services based on the economic, legal, and social rights as enshrined in the Fijian Constitution are delivered,” she said.
Minister Akbar added that it was essential to provide opportunities to increase community members’ active participation and to facilitate access to these opportunities and services via an additional platform, which can also alleviate poverty.
The stakeholders who were part of the REACH program in Tavua included the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Spinal Injury, Medical Services Pacific, Empower Pacific, Fijian Elections office, Fiji Revenue and Customs, Birth, Death & Marriage, Project Heaven Trust, Ministry of i-Taukei, Fiji Police, Water Authority, Ministry of Health and RFMF Engineers, who provided their services for free. This program was also supported by the Provincial Administrator and the District Officer for the District.
Minister Akbar also met with the women’s group and encouraged them to identify areas of need for economic empowerment and to reach out to the relevant stakeholders and ask for assistance.
Wainivoce Settlement advisory councillor, Rashid Ali acknowledged the Government’s continued effort to raise the profile of community members in Fiji and also the presence of the REACH Team.
Inoke Domo, 73, from Koro village thanked the REACH team for bringing Government services to the rural community.
Similar sentiments were shared by Dudhnath Sharma, 80, from Davota village who said that he managed to visit the PROJECT HEAVEN team and got his eyes and ears checked.
“The team gave me advice on how to take care of my eyes and ears as I’m getting old. I thanked the Fijian Government for this great REACH Project initiative and for bringing this service to the rural and urban communities in Fiji,” Mr Sharma said.
(Source: Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation)
I managed to get two copies of our ‘vola ni kawa bula’ from the Ministry of i’Taukei Affairs booth. I have to pay $240 for transportation to Suva in order to access this service at their office. Thank you for bringing this service to our doorstep
Inoke Domo Koro Village