JOSAIA RALAGO
Fijian Government is investing $4.7 million into the construction for the Labasa Golden Age Home in an effort to provide residents with a state of the art facility.
After its completion, the new structure is expected to accommodate 40 residents and offering a day care service for the non-residents – being the first for any Golden Age Home in the country.
While speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa said old age was a sensitive phase, elderly people needed care and comfort to lead a healthy life without worries and anxiety.
“The Fijian Government recognizes that when caring for the elderly, there are a number of things to be considered – one of them being old age homes and long-term care of the elderly,” Minister Vuniwaqa said.
“It is a great privilege for Government through the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation to provide this service for the senior citizens of Fiji with urgent and complex welfare needs – and we are very happy today to start on a project that aims to better this service.”
She said that while the Government takes care of the genuine cases at the home, they believe that families should not forget their responsibilities towards their elders.
“The Fijian Government believes that we owe our elders an opportunity and adequate facilities to lead a life with good health, dignity, economic independence and a peaceful and respectful departure,” Minister Vuniwaqa said.
“However, this in no way means that our families should forget their responsibilities towards our elders. Nothing can replace the affection, love and warmth of a family and we hope that only the most genuine cases end up in our facilities.”
This new structure is expected to be completed by July 2021.