Accolades and praises
15 cases of COVID-19 in Fiji!
Lautoka lockdown lifted!
Some relief for Lautoka residents!
However, I’m worried about the negligence of some who feel that they are above the law.
The awareness drive and the messages from our PM have fallen on some deaf ears, sadly.
Around 500 people have been arrested for breaching the nationwide curfew and as I pondered over the number of arrests made for breaking the curfew hours, Repeka Nasiko’s article (07/04) titled “Health workers showered with words of praise” showed that we have in our country superheroes who deserve accolades and praises during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Health Minister and his team of dedicated, committed and hardworking health workers (including nurses, midwives, doctors, technicians and drivers transporting COVID-19 victims), military and police officers, and journalists must be commended for the important roles that they have played during COVID-19.
Trust me, our superheroes will be remembered for years just as our Olympians are remembered for bringing glory to our tiny island nation.
My wife is a midwife and she is proud of the important role that she plays at the CWM Hospital and when she arrives home I make sure that I thank her for her diligence and commitment to the nation at this hour of crisis.
I must also at this juncture thank Water Authority of Fiji for their commitment in ensuring that the residents of Balgovind Rd, Nadawa got water during the recent water cut.
Their prompt response ensured that the residents received water to meet family needs.
A big vinaka vakalevu to the carting team and to Dialanieta, Timoci and Jimilai for attending to our calls!
Finally, hats off to The Fiji Times for bringing stories from Fiji and abroad on COVID-19!
Your reporting has ensured that we have not been deprived of quality and reliable news!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Appreciating things we take for granted
It’s no mystery that in these times, we learn to appreciate things we take for granted.
An example is the readily available, affordable fresh fruit and vegetables that are now dearer, and harder to find.
Unfortunately, I’ve had to add my favourite newspaper to my list of such things.
During this period, I’ve learned that The Fiji Times is top priority on peoples’ list of essentials as it is one of the first items to run out at our local shops each day.
The alternative was reluctantly offered to me as the vendor hoped my preference had changed during these times.
I respectfully declined the offer.
A virtual version of The Fiji Times is freely available online but, from my experience, many would agree that it’s not the same as having the hard copy in their hands.
Samuela Savu, Farm Rd, Nakasi
World Health Day
On April 7, the World Health Day was celebrated.
This won’t be possible, without all our medical team of doctors, midwives and nurses, and remind world leaders of the critical role they play in keeping the world healthy.
They fight at the forefront of the COVID-19 response – providing high quality, respectful treatment and care, leading community dialogue to address fears and questions.
They call for your support on World Health Day to ensure that the nursing and midwifery work forces are strong enough to ensure that everyone, everywhere gets the healthcare they need.
It is an annual event being celebrated for years to raise the common public awareness towards the health issues and concerns.
Fijians are not behind when it comes to being health conscious but NCDs are on the rise. World Health Day celebration focuses on increasing life expectancy by adding good health to the lives of people and promoting healthier living habits.
Youths of the new era are also targeted by this event to prevent and make them healthy to make the world healthy and free from AIDS and HIV and now COVID-19.
Prevention and cure from the vector-borne diseases spread by vectors and travellers from one country to another.
Some of the objectives of why it is being celebrated yearly are listed below: To promote self-care among people, depression free society; To motivate and promote efforts in creating the healthy environments in their community; To increase public awareness of various causes and prevention of NCDs; and To provide detailed knowledge of how to prevent various diseases and their complications.
Practise social distancing and wash your hands regularly.
Remember “Health is Wealth”.
Eat locally grown vegetables and exercise regularly.
Please stay home because they are at work to fight against this pandemic.
Neelz Singh, Lami
Precious gift
The global pandemic has meant a rapidly changing way of life for many of us.
We have a new language, new behaviour, new plans.
There is panic and perplexity as we grapple with the new situation each day presents.
There are many challenges, but opportunities too to see our family, our friends and neighbours in a new light.
When life is threatened, perhaps we are being led to treasure our life and the life of others in a deeper way.
Life is an amazing gift.
For people of faith, life is God’s amazing gift for each one.
Life is given to be protected and nurtured.
It is not to be taken for granted or undermined carelessly.
Life is to be shared together and can only be shared fully as we are aware of one another in our interactions.
At this time we are called to practise social distancing, to wash hands, and to observe other restrictions.
By obeying restrictions, we honour ourselves and others, we give respectful space in order to save lives, we treasure our homes, we preserve and honour the precious gift of life in ourselves and others.
Respectfulness of others is part of life in Fiji.
We need to be respectful at this time.
As we struggle with hardships, may our respect for human life grow and our reverence for all creation.
May our love deepen for those around us.
May we pray for those in leadership positions: those whom we see regularly in the media –– the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, the Police Commissioner and others.
We give thanks for the medical profession and for many who are caring courageously for others.
We give thanks for life itself.
We are created to be caring, life-giving people in the opportunities presented each day.
We give thanks for the God of life who is with us in this situation and who leads forward into a new future.
Winston Halapua, Paul Sloan St, Suva
Double trouble
We are in the middle of battling COVID-19 and here comes Cyclone Harold!
Get ready Fiji!
Waisale Moce, Nadarivatu
Safety first
If one is on a mountain and learns about a tsunami warning from an official source, the safest thing to do would be to stay put and wait for an all clear instruction from authorities.
Not trying to reach home as quickly as possible when the house is beside the sea. In times of adversities, it’s safety first.
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Thank you
A big vinaka vakalevu to Tarusila, Maraia and Ateca (FT 11/3) for taking the time to make a banner thanking our medical workers for their work.
At this time all our medical staff need support.
Thank you medics.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Lautoka
Daily briefings
I keep up with the almost daily briefings by the PM, A-G, the health officials and Commissioner of Police.
I must say that I am thoroughly impressed by the Minister for Health and the Commissioner of Police and their contributions during these briefings.
Their contributions and answers are clear, concise and to the point.
They know what they are doing.
Congratulations and a big vinaka vakalevu to all health officials, law enforcement officers and security forces on the ground for the wonderful work they do during these challenging times.
The people of Fiji must listen and follow the advice of these authorities.
I believe one thing Fijians must not do is listen to the Opposition parties.
Jan Nissar, Carlton, NSW, Australia
Language issues
In respect to the letter eloquently written by Mr Chang (FT 02/04), if modernisation came into linguistic effect, then I suggest that we also look at the twisting of local names which is by far not fitting for my mother tongue.
Rak-e-rak-e. Lam-e, Nan-di, Lam-basa and other twisted ethnic names.
Indigenous radio and TV presenters are also making mistakes nowadays to highlight things, as saying wavu as bridge, yellow instead of dromodromo etc.
Indeed Mr Chang, it is of language modernisation and ignorance in defiance of home dialects, a borrowed or copycat dialect by individuals whereas linguists and language protection are becoming extinct within our modern society.
Areki Dawai, Suva
COVID-19 stats
The COVID-19 is breaking ground.
Some very intriguing stats include a CNN broadcast data that includes 900 million children not at school and lockdown at home, a tiger in the US was the first animal to be tested positive whilst on a happier note an Italian rugby player hung his boots to drive an ambulance while a British female cricket player also was driving an ambulance, thousands are risking their own lives to help in the fight against this deadly virus.
With America the epicentre, there is very alarming data at the emergency room in a New York hospital battling COVID-19, where a nurse was calling a patient every minute.
There are some more shocking news with record doctors dying in Italy.
When are we going to hear and read about the first healthy news of 2020?
It’s four months.
Shalwyn Prasad, Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva
