Suva and Lautoka Senior People’s homes in the design stage - Vuniwaqa

The Suva and Lautoka Senior People’s homes are now in the design stage for refurbishment. 

This was revealed by Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa when SODELPA MP, Salote Radrodro asked Vuniwaqa to inform parliament on what kind of arrangements  the government has to be able to accommodate the high demand for people who want to go to elderly homes. 

Vuniwaqa says the ministry is already in talks with consultants.

The Minister says $2 million has been allocated for the upgrade of Senior Homes for this financial year and they will start with the Labasa Senior People’s Home. She says it will be a new design and it will cost the government $4.5 million. She says the $2 million allocation is for this financial year and the project will be completed in the next financial year.

She says the government had introduced the Social Pension Scheme, which was an avenue for those who had no other form of pension from FNPF or from government and gave them an opportunity to receive monthly pension of $100 for people who are 65 years and above.

Vuniwaqa also says the ministry has partnered with APTC to come up with a care giving training package to teach people to take care of the elderly in their communities. She says it was launched in Lau last year. She says three training sessions will be conducted in Yasawa in March this year.