Nacanieli Tuilevuka

THE proposed needle and syringe program is not to encourage drug use but to reduce the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections. This was raised by the Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa as there had been claims made that Government would encourage drug use with the roll out of the program. “Let me be […]

THE rise in HIV infections among women is becoming a growing concern for Fiji, says the Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa. Mr Ravunawa said women were increasingly being affected by the country’s HIV epidemic. “Approximately 94 per cent of new diagnoses are among our iTaukei population, while infections among women are also increasing,” he said. […]

SALES from Food Processors (Fiji) Pte Limited’s Batiri operation generated more than $200,000 last year. However, its chairperson, Raj Sharma, said products produced at Batiri and transferred to Food Processors Fiji for export were valued at approximately $129,000. “Combined, the two streams represented about $214,000 in sales and products transferred for export during the year.” […]

FIJI imports too much of what it consumes, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Commerce, Business Development and Public Enterprise Manoa Kamikamica. He made the comments during the commissioning of a new Food Processors Fiji facility at Batiri, Macuata earlier this week. “We import too much of what we consume, and we remain exposed […]

TWO road maintenance contracts in the Northern Division have not been renewed, Infrastructure Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau has confirmed. They are Fair Deal and Kashmir. Responding to questions on the status of the contracts, Mr Tuisawau confirmed that the contracts were not renewed but could not comment further as decisions concerning the contracts were made […]

THE commissioning of the Vuo Health Centre in Labasa has been deferred because of outstanding documentation and paperwork involving key stakeholders. The health centre was expected to be commissioned last month, but the opening did not proceed as planned. Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa said land issues and the inclusion of a minor operating theatre […]

MEDICAL interns have finally been assigned to hospitals after spending at least six weeks at home, with the Health Ministry attributing the delay to several administrative and clinical requirements. Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa said the posting process involved a number of factors that had to be resolved before the interns could be deployed. “Many […]

A healthcare worker who survived a maritime incident in Lau last month went without salary for at least three months after applying for and being granted study leave, Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa has confirmed. Mr Ravunawa said the worker, understood to be a peer educator, had initially applied for study leave, which was approved, […]

MORE than 100 religious organisations and communities have benefited from projects supported through the multi-ethnic grant program. Its line minister Charan Jeath Singh said the program continued to support community-based organisations by helping improve facilities and responding to needs at the grassroots level. “The program remains an important mechanism through which Government partners with communities […]

A FILE containing a complaint against a former Fiji Sugar Corporation senior official allegedly went missing after it was lodged with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption about three-and-a-half years ago. This was the revelation made by incoming Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh during a recent interview with this newspaper at Mata-i-Labasa in Macuata. Mr […]