Nadi Hospital pharmacy
Ronnie Chang, Nadi
This contribution is directed to the Ministry of Health “Top Guns” for and on behalf of all in Nadi who suffer from:
(a) High Blood Pressure
(b) Cholesterol
(c) Asthma
For at least the past four weeks the much-needed drugs have not been available from the Pharmacy in Nadi Hospital.
I highlight this acute shortage especially for the poor who struggle to purchase these from pharmacies downtown.
Only the first six months of the year have gone by in a “flash”. Where to?
Did the bulk procurement of these go hopelessly wrong or was there a mass miscalculation?
When will these “necessities for life” become available?
The drugs I make reference to, amongst others, include Nifedipine 20mg; Simvastatin 20mg and Salbutamol Puffers (SalbuAir).
Will someone in authority care to take the urgent initiative to clear the air for these sufferers, please?
Missing number plates
Rajesh Lal, Labasa
Can the Land Transport Authority come out clean as to why it is silent on the issue of vehicles running on our roads without their number plates affixed? Today it has become a fashion to some vehicle owners to remove their number plates and drive along because the authorities concerned are sleeping on the job.
Maybe LTA is waiting for a hit and run case and then try to locate the vehicle, which would be a waste of time.
There are dozens of old and new vehicles running on our roads everyday without their number plates affixed, which is a big risk to our road users. Where are the road safety people?
Climate Change
Alisi W Daurewa, Suva
I looked this week and noted what appeared to be complementary initiatives of the Government and communities on climate change.
The first which the Attorney-General and Minister for Economic Affairs must be congratulated on is Government’s intention to spend $200,000 for the establishment cost of a secretariat in the hope of harnessing funds from donors for climate change.
I am hopeful however that consideration is given to harmonising some existing legislation that currently contradicts the effort of communities to increase their resilience to climate change.
I refer in particular to a recent spate of discussions with some customary owners of iqoliqoli from all four administrative divisions (central, eastern, northern and western). They are anxious as a consequence of the impact of certain legislation which impinge on their right to free access and use of their age-old iqoliqoli which they must now share unconditionally with surfers and super yachts. Their anxiety arises from their allegation that the Government did not consult them on a matter that had cultural and economic implications on their livelihood.
They support a multi-stakeholder approach to tourism development.
To give them credit, they know what they are talking about for they speak with much experience. Their stories have been told to international communities over the years.
They recently received international recognition through FLMMA (Fiji Locally Marine Protected Areas) for their method of traditional management practices to contribute to global efforts to conserve our planet. Congratulations FLMMA!
This acclamation however is one of several which probably began in 2003, when the collective effort of communities, civil society organisations and the government was recognised by the United Nations for their contribution to sustainable development.
The originality of their approach to mitigation through networking attracted curiosity and invited global funding.
Since then, the number of marine protected areas have increased and by 2014, there were 466 declared tabu or ‘no take’ or marine protected areas (FLMMA, F/T, 11/12/14).
As a bonus to the outcome of this work, scientific research (see Bowden-Kerby et al, 2009, 2011) found that marine protected areas strengthen coral reef resilience to climate change!
The question that now arises is; shouldn’t the Government be concerned that its effort in attracting global funding for climate change might be impeded by legislations that appear to be disabling community effort from strengthening resilience to climate change? While saying this, I also sympathise with the Attorney General and Minister for Economic Affairs comment when he described accessing global climate change funds as a bureaucratic nightmare.
Because in the final analysis, the Government might find that marine protected areas were institutionalised through the very generous funding of global donors over several years.
Reality
Floyd Robinson, Masinu
As a nation, this weekend we embrace a reality – both joyful and painful.
The Vodafone Fijian 7s coach, Ben Ryan, will name the team to the Rio Olympics. With so many talented players in the squad he will have to make some very hard calls between dropping and selecting players.
Some will be hurt not to make the final team while others will be glad to have made the team.
As a nation we feel for those who will be dropped and support those who make the final cut. As a nation we wish them the very best and will stand by whatever decisions are made.
At the end of the day, reality is that we must appreciate the efforts of those who make the final team as well as those who did not.
Commercial exploitation
Dr Sushil Sharma, Lautoka
Commercial exploitation perpetrated to our Fijian society, by a major reputable commercial international firm dealing with the rearing, slaughter and sale of a particular brand of chicken in Fiji– by using our school children to collect coupons from their dressed chicken packaging and then submitting them to their schools – has been an outright abuse.
By the data collected from all schools for the past few years, the education department would be able to state categorically the number of chicken consumed by Fijians through this promotion. We would also thus be able to ascertain the profit to benefit ratio, which will show the meagre benefits to schools.
Other meat products like pork, beef, lamb, fish are not only affected, but competing chicken producing companies – who have invested millions of dollars in their hatchery, rearing, slaughter and processing plants – find themselves on the receiving end.
It is painful to note that our Fijian Commerce Commission, as usual, has once again been found sleeping at the wheels.
I often wonder if our compliance people including our politicians – so eager to be the “tiger in parliament” – also live on the same planet as us, or they have become so insignificant as a people, that they do not notice these types of things in the same community that we live in. I would have thought that they would lead the way.
Goodman Fielder International general manager Chris Zaayman, instead of apologising to all Fijians, all he had to say was that “he was very disappointed that it (his company) would no longer be able to deliver its ‘Crest Cool Stuff for Schools’ programme to over 200 schools throughout Fiji”.
Warm hearted thanks to Mahendra Reddy, our Education Minister, to muster enough courage to put an end to it.
Loans
Sukha Singh, Labasa
A friend told me a State loan is different from a personal loan and that Fiji has a potential to loan much more than what we have borrowed now.
But one thing I have noticed is the more the country borrows the more taxes are charged. One easy way out of paying these loans is to ask Donald Trump to adopt this country.
Ryan’s pick
Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu
Only coach Ben Ryan knows who will be the best to represent Fiji in 7s at the Rio Olympic Games.
Whoever he selects I believe will shine at the Games. After two years of success in the World Sevens Series and with very dedicated and talented players being screened and well versed with his requirements there is no doubt at all his choice will be final. We can only show our support by wishing Ben all the best and to return home with the gold medal.
Ben’s most difficult task now is facing the players who will be dropped from the selection and is probably putting words that would be said to them. There would be surprises and there would be negative comments against the team that Fiji is all waiting for to be named tomorrow.
We should support Ben all the way and the boys who have been selected. All we can do is just pray and support in whatever way we can. Go Fiji, go.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj