SPEECH AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE – NATIONAL SPORTS & WELLNESS DAY

Nasoqo House Monday
Suva 26 June 2017
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The Honourable Minister for Health
Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports
Senior officials of both Ministries
Invited Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Bula vinaka, Namaste, Salaam Aleikum and good afternoon to you all. I would also like to wish all Eid Mubarak on this important day.

I am delighted to be here at this joint press conference; I must acknowledge the great and developing partnership between the two Ministries – the Ministry of Health and my Ministry.

This Friday 30 June, the whole of Fiji will celebrate the National Sports and Wellness Day. Cabinet approved this as a Public Holiday in 2014 to promote Physical Activity and Sports as it is essential to Healthy Living.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the World Health Organization estimates physical inactivity is responsible for close to 2 million deaths annually globally. It further estimates that fewer than one-third of young people in countries around the world are adequately active to ensure their present and future health and well-being. The Fijian Government recognises the effect of Non-Communicable Diseases in Fiji. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Youth and Sports and our stakeholders cannot over-emphasise the need to stay healthy and physically active.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports is reviewing the National Sports and Physical Activity and through the revised policy, sports and physical activity will be harnessed to achieve its full impact as a generator of social change. The revised policy supports mass participation or community-based sports activities as they easily lead to producing a healthier population; since sport and physical activity have positive effects on both individuals, the economy and society in general.

Last Thursday, together with the Minister for Education, we handed over a newly developed school ground at Korovuto College in Nadi. This is based on the knowledge that children, especially students and young people, are an important part of sports development. The revised Policy wishes to strengthen Physical Education in schools, to provide more sporting and healthy opportunities at an early age for Fijian students; including students with special educational needs and disabilities. We are working together with the Education Ministry to promote quality physical education as a key component of the school curriculum and as a tool for healthy living. However, physical activity cannot be limited to the youth as the older generation benefits enormously from keeping fit and healthy.

I must acknowledge the partnership that is deepening between my Ministry and the Ministry of Health and hopefully we will attract more stakeholders along the road so to collectively address our health challenge through sports and physical activity.

I want to take this opportunity to make a general appeal to all Fijian families, organisations, villages and clubs, to find an opportunity on 30 June to participate in any form of physical activity or sports; despite of our age, background, gender or ability; wherever we find ourselves on this day. Sports and physical activity are essential to preventing illnesses and combating NCDs and must be combined with a good nutritional diet to have a real and lasting impact.

This Day is for communities to come together and actively participate, cheer and bask in fun-filled activities without competition. On Friday, please get out of your homes to join the masses either at Suva’s Albert Park for those around the Central Division, or Lautoka’s Churchill Park for those in the West and go to Labasa’s Subrail Park for those in the North – or at least 14 other venues we have lined up for this National Sports and Wellness Day.

I acknowledge the contribution of;
• the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee in partnering with us and promoting the Olympic Day Fun Run in Suva and Lautoka;
• the Fiji National Sports Commission and various of our National Sports Organisations for assisting us organise this Day in a large number of venues across Fiji; and
• Our colleagues in the civil service for reaching out to ensure all Fijians get active in a fun environment.

I am delighted that our NCD Champion, His Excellency the President, will officiate in Suva and the Honourable Minister of Health in Lautoka. This really is the “A Team”.

The Health and Youth and Sports Ministries hope that after 30 June, every Fijian will realise the positive impact and influence of regular physical activity in our lives, economy and society. We want every Fijian to value sports and physical activity as they can literally reshape the health status of our community and nation.

Vinaka vakalevu, Dhanyavad, Shokran and thank you all very much.