Viseisei Sai Health Centre

›News›International Women's Day 2017

2017.03.13 Category: Collective Community Ownership of Health and Social Issues

‘BE BOLD FOR CHANGE’

International Women’s Day - 8th March 2017.

The beginning of IWD was in 1909 in America, as the National Woman’s Day on February 28 that year. In December 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution and proclaimed a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace. This day marked the demand of strong rights for women, including the right to vote, to hold public office, and a voice against employment and sex discrimination. Since then it is celebrated globally every year on the 8th of March.

Viseisei Sai Health Centre and Empower Pacific in partnership with European Union, invited all women, men, stakeholders and community organisations to participate in a march to celebrate women through Lautoka starting and ending at Shirley Park where presentations from key stakeholders took place. This event was a call on everyone, male and female, in every community to help forge a more inclusive, gender equal world. It enabled us as a community to recognize women’s contributions to society, to family and to our country. Events such as these work towards raising awareness on women’s rights, education, gender based violence, reproductive and maternal health, women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Registration opened at 8.30am and resulted in over 200 people participating in the march. International Women’s Day tote bags were handed out to all participants, which included a small bottle of water and multiple sexual and reproductive health information pamphlets.
The chief guest for the event was the Deputy Head of European Union Delegation in the Pacific Mr Corrado Pampaloni.

March participants included representatives from the general public organisations including:

Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation
Fiji Red Cross - Lautoka Branch
Rainbow Pride Foundation
Lautoka Youth Council
Community Health Workers from throughout the Ba Province
Viseisei Sai Health Centre clinic and CCOHSI Staff
Ministry of Health and Medical Services
Navutu Youth Club
Fiji Police
Lautoka Market Vendors Association
Empower Pacific
Fiji National University staff and medical students
Lautoka Market Vendors Association
Lautoka Hub Centre staff

March participants were organised into groups and were encouraged to hold their own banners with their own message in celebration of women. The march commenced from Shirley Park at 10am and, escorted by Fiji Police, travelled along Waterfront Rd, Naviti St, Yasawa St and Vitogo Pde before returning to Shirley Park 20 minutes later. Once returning to Shirley Park presentations were made from key stakeholders including:

Viseisei Sai Health Centre Medical Director and Fiji National University Associate Professor - Dr. Swaran Naidu
Divisional Medical Officer - Dr Susana Nakalevu
Divisional Women’s Interest Officer – Renu Dayal
Chief Guest: European Union Deputy Head of Delegation – Corrado Pampaloni
Empower Pacific – Miranda Emose
Community Health Worker – Josephine Rokodi (Vanuakula Settlement)
Viseisei Sai Health Centre Co-Medical Director and Fiji National University Professor – Rajat Gyaneshwar

The speeches were followed by three songs dedicated to women, beautifully sung by the Yavusa Koi Vuda Male Choir. The cake cutting ceremony followed before declaring the official program complete. Lunch and ceremonial cake were provided to all march participants.

We would like to thank our sponsors European Union in the Pacific, Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation and Australian Volunteers International, as well as assistance and support from the various organisations below, without whom, this day could not have been successful: