The Ministry of Women, Children & Poverty Alleviation in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme through the funding from the Government of Japan coordinated a 2 weeks REACH programme in Nadi from 25th October to 5th November.
The REACH program known as the “Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion” is a mobile based service with the goal of making efficient and timely services a reality for both rural and urban communities. The REACH programme promotes the Fijian Government’s vision of “Inclusive Socio-economic Development” ensuring that no Fijian is left behind.
Stakeholders that were part of the mobile service included the Fijian Elections Office, the Ministry of Justice (Births, Death & Marriage Office), the Ministry of Health, Medical Services Pacific, the Fiji Police Force, the Fijian Competition and the Consumer Commission, the Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs, Spinal Injury Association, Empower Pacific, Fiji Water Authority, the United Nations Development programme and the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation.
During the two weeks of awareness, an estimated 2368 individuals had accessed the services provided through the Reach Programme platform. Mr. Ramesh Singh and Jaint Lata of Narewa were pleased as they were one of the 1426 individuals able to get their voter cards update at a location which was very convenient to them.
Ms. Delores Rachel, teacher at Ratu Navula College said “as a working woman and a mother sometimes it is difficult to find time to visit medical centers, thus mobile programmes like REACH are vital in ensuring women of nearby communities have access to medical check-up.”
She is thankful to the Government of Japan, UNDP and the Fijian Government through the Ministry of Women, Children & Poverty Alleviation for the initiative.
After the successful completion of the REACH awareness in the District Nadi and Sikituru, the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in partnership with UNDP will be conducting a similar programme in other province and districts.