Health of the nation

IT is fairly obvious that we are heading towards becoming a very sick nation.

As it currently is, we have many who are suffering and dying from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

Our poor lifestyles and diet over the past 3-4 decades is now gradually reaping sickness with both the young and the old.

And we seem to be unconcerned about the fate awaiting us all?

The question that needs to be asked is, who is responsible for the health of our nation?

How can we break away from quick fixes and be more responsible and take charge of our deteriorating health situation and make real changes?

What’s concerning, most of all, is that we are basically choking the nation from having healthy, productive Fijians to carry us forward.

To address this very serious problem, the mindset of our leadership and policymakers is critical if we are to restore our nation’s ethos and ideals before we can actually think of development.

Under the current circumstances, we are flushing valuable resources straight down the drain.

We cannot afford to continue turning our backs upon this dire situation and burying our heads in the sand not wanting to face the facts before us.

By doing so, “development” will become a vocabulary to the future generations.

To emerge out of our unhealthy state and to wake up to the fact that we have a nation to bring out of sickness are the challenges and priorities we must face.

It needs to be the core area that needs to be addressed as a society so that we can produce Fijians who are healthy and useful to themselves, their families, their employers and the nation.

We need Fijians who are resourceful and relevant to the challenges and changes of our time and to our dreams and our hopes for freedom, dignity and prosperity.

We are becoming weaker by the day and over-burdened by extreme sicknesses, which is the least we expect from our leadership.

A true leader needs to appreciate that the time to make real changes is now.

SOS!

SIMON HAZELMAN

Rava Estate, Savusavu our cheers for our sporting teams in the international arena.

The best means of proving our love for the nation is through our concern for the following with your own additions and/or deletions.

First and foremost, comes our family.

We need to take ownership of our attitudes and behaviour of our family members at home.

Let us create a home within the house we live in.

The house may be or may not be of standards we may aspire one to be but it is where we build personalities.

Patriotism is also seen through our actions and consideration for our environment.

Managing our garbage is of utmost importance to prove that we really love our nation.

Making the best use of the available resources is another good means of proving our love for the nation.

Nothing beats the satisfaction we get for all the good we can do for our lovely nation.

Let us be positive within our limitations and shine the path of our young ones through the expansion of the horizon of the aura of patriotism.

God bless Fiji.

DHIRENDRA PRASAD

Lautoka

I believe the termite population now has reached some parts of Sabeto in Nadi and come next migration season, it will probably reach Nadi airport. What a scary experience the termites will give to the tourists at night at the airport.

What contingency plan or plan B does Biosecurity have in place during the mass termite migration season? Switching off house lights and burning tyres or other materials is not good enough as there are many streetlights and commercial building lights attracting termites.

Biosecurity officials should increase their manpower and work in partnership with other stakeholders such as the Lautoka City Council and also recruit volunteers to identify and destroy the breeding locations.

We already have a women’s crisis centre, climate change crisis and COVID-19 pandemic crisis, we don’t want a termite crisis in our beautiful country.

Food for thought, the Government should increase the budget for Biosecurity Authority for termite operations and most importantly, should open a termite relief fund account to rebuild houses for the people who cannot build their homes damaged by termites.

RANGA NATHAN

Legalega, Nadi it and the region of what might have been. It was our leader in the region for a very long time. It has lost that mantle. Its handling of its trade dispute with Vanuatu, the air services rights with Solomon Airlines and the suspension of funding to USP are a new low in its standing in the region as seen from us outside. Its current regional behaviour and posture are uncharacteristic of the Fijian ethos of respect, tolerance and kindness for each other and for others. The region is crying out for leadership and statesmanship. Fiji held that mantle for a long time. It really is time to reflect carefully and long and hard on Fiji’s place and role in the Pacific and restore Fiji’s standing as the beacon of the Pacific”.

I couldn’t agree more with my great friend. His sentiments are the counsel of the wise, the morsels of truth shared with the forthrightness of a true personal friend and a friend to Fiji.

I submit that we must reflect on these. How did we lose our regional way? How did we lose our “Fijian ethos of respect (veirokorokovi), tolerance (veikauwaitaki) and kindness (veilomani)” in our dealings and relations with our regional neighbours? Is it a reminder that our Fijian-ness is inherently within us?

I’m reminded of what a former permanent secretary in the PM’s Office shared. It relates to when Ratu Mara was choosing the first group of public servants to be our diplomats abroad. One of them asked Ratu Mara, “How can I behave like a diplomat as I haven’t attended any training in diplomacy?” Ratu Mara responded, “Just be a Fijian.”

Wow! Such a response may be described in Fijian as titobu.

I submit that it encompasses the totality of the Fijian ethos of veivakarokorokotaki, veirogorogoci, veivakaturagataki, veilomani, veikauwaitaki, veivosovosoti, solesolevaki, veivukei, etc.

Folks, as we embark on the next 50 years, let’s not forget our Fijian ethos. Let us all be “Fijians”, not by decree or on paper. Rather, in the fullest sense of the term.

The totality of our being. Long live our Fijian ethos!

KINIVILIAME KETECA

Nausori