Local news is brief
Blood level up
TWENTY units of blood were collected at the Ministry of Works-organised blood drive yesterday. National Blood co-ordinator Jo Bola described the people's response as good. He said they needed the blood as the cardiac team from Sydney Adventist Hospital was in the country for heart operation. A blood drive will be held today at the Vinod Patel Centrepoint, Laucala Beach Estate, from 9am to 1pm and at MH Car Park in Nadi Town from 9am to 4pm.
Elephantisis threat
ELEPHANTISIS will remain a danger in Fiji unless at least 80 per cent of the population takes tablets to wipe out the disease. This was the warning from the World Health Organisation's medical officer for the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Program, Dr Corinne Capuano. She said the disease was prevalent in Fiji, as recent statistics showed more than 50 people in the Central Division had it.
Rotuma is BFH
ROTUMA Rural Hospital became the 21st hospital in Fiji to be awarded the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), making Fiji the only Pacific Island Country to achieve the status across in all its hospitals. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) nutrition specialist, Seini Kurusiga presented the award on behalf of UNICEF and the World Health Organisation. Mrs Kurusiga said: "Both UNICEF and WHO were proud to share this milestone achievement with the Ministry of Health."
Birthday wish
"We make a wish for a world where children will be given all the opportunities in life and a world where all the children's rights are met." That was the birthday wish of Save the Children's 90th anniversary by its staff in Suva this week. Save the Children Fiji chief executive officer Chandra Shekhar said they had come a long way in supporting the underprivileged children of the nation.
FIT appointment
ONE of the first receivers of a Doctorate in Philosophy degree from the University of South Pacific, Subash Chandra, has been appointed to the faculty of the Fiji Institute of Technology. FIT director Doctor Ganesh Chand announced the appointment of Professor Chandra as a visiting fellow this week. Professor Chandra was the head of the School of Education at the University of the South Pacific for 20 years before continuing his academic career at the University of Canberra and Charles Stuart University, both in Australia.
