THE Ministry of Youth and Sports provides avenues to upskill youths through sports and youth development programs.
Youth and Sports Minister Laisenia Tuitubou made the comments on Thursday while delivering his ministerial speech in Parliament.
Mr Tuitubou said in line with Government’s initiative to reduce the increasing number of non-communicable diseases, the ministry’s statutory body, the Fiji National Sports Commission, had eight programs which officials used as the platform to engage youths in the programs of reducing NCDs.
“The practice is to target villages and settlements in one visit where one village will be the venue and host of these programs. These programs are sports outreach, train the trainers, kids in communities, educate the educators, wellness program with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, inclusive programs aimed at persons with disabilities, community assistance and follow-ups,” Mr Tuitubou said.
He said part of trying to reduce NCDs was introducing and sustaining physical activity in the community. He said the ministry had also decentralised its services to rural and maritime areas.
Mr Tuitubou said the ministry, through its youth empowerment training, provided youths with skills such as basic financial literacy, budgeting and business planning with technical advice relevant to the need of the community.