The need for caregiving skills is crucial given the increasing number of Non-Communicable Disease-induced amputations around the country.

While addressing women who are part of the Family Caregivers training in Ovalau yesterday, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa says the training will benefit families who are already caregiving and also prepare families for their future responsibilities.

“To the trainees, make use of this opportunity – to learn and to network with fellow trainees beyond this training to ensure that the valuable skills that you learn here today can be continuously imparted within your communities and beyond. Because it is when you put what you learn here into practice that the real aim of this training is achieved – make you agents of positive change within your communities by empowering the vulnerable through caregiving and contributing to our national aim of leaving nobody behind.”

Vuiniwaqa says Fijians are not only living longer but an increasing percentage of Fijians are recorded to have a disability and families should be prepared for this.

She adds according to the Fiji Census in 2017 Fijians aged 60+ comprised 9% of the total population (80,483 Older Fijians), while people living with disability make up 12.8% of the total population (113,595 Fijians).

She adds the government is playing its part by providing bus fare concessions to older persons and those living with disabilities and it’s the families’ responsibility to provide care for these people.

The two day community training continues today.