Lautoka’s foray

Pranil Ram, Lautoka

I believe the whole of Fiji should get be­hind supporting Lautoka to win the O- League.

Lautoka is only the second Fijian team to have reached this far. We should put aside all the district feeling, at least for now, to support Lautoka.

Although Lautoka may be in different ter­ritory altogether I am sure they have pre­pared well to give Wellington a good run for their money. The players must be well aware of the task and what awaits them should they go on to win.

Players have to play the games of their lives.

They have to minimise errors in basically all facets of play.

With Team Wellington having their tail high after beating many times champion Auckland City, we are all aware that the task will by no means be an easy one.

Go blues go!

Pit toilets

Satish Nakched, Suva

It is very noticeable in the rural and the maritime zone of Fiji where there is no run­ning water system available that some peo­ple opt to use open spaces, rivers, shorelines and vegetation as toilets.

It is a fact that many city dwellers will find it hard to understand, but the reality is that there is a huge problem in sanitation and many use makeshift lavatories which is a mere two planks of timber that run across the open pit surrounded by three tempo­rary walls.

Some have sack curtains as doors and others are open facing the bush. Such peo­ple are deprived of their basic needs and because of the distance from city centres assistance from the authorities is not forth­coming.

The non-compliance and biological health hazards have a detrimental effect on the people and in the long run applies enor­mous pressure on the health resources of the country.

The improperly designed pit latrines can actually allow disease-causing microbes or other contaminants to leach into the groundwater.

The contaminated water puts people, espe­cially children, at risk of developing poten­tially life-threatening diarrhoeal diseases. The flies lay their eggs in faeces within poorly-built latrines.

The increase in the fly population increas­es the spread of diseases caused by the fae­cal pathogens they carry. The odour cannot be controlled and the stink can be carried a great distance in the direction of the wind and is very noticeable during the night.

Any water segmentation in the pit allows mosquitoes and other pests to breed. These temporary structures are poorly construct­ed and the improper lining of pits may lead to collapse of the superstructure.

I remember well that in the 1960s the Gov­ernment understood such problems in ru­ral areas and there was always a visit to the villages by the Health Department to edu­cate the people on constructing a pit latrine or pit toilet that collects human faeces in a hole in the ground.

When properly built and maintained they can decrease the spread of disease by reduc­ing the amount of human faeces in the envi­ronment from open defecation.

This decreases the transfer of pathogens between faeces and food by flies. These pathogens are major causes of infectious diarrhoea and intestinal worms.

After the educational session the health team always had a moulding of a pit toilet slab and as the village project manufactures the concrete pit toilet slabs on the site a hole is dug in the ground and normally they rec­ommend that a 44 gallon drum without the top and the bottom end is inserted into the hole and the seat slap placed so that it does not collapse later.

All the possible leakage is sealed off with cement and a proper shelter erected over it with a door with a good source of ventila­tion.

After every use a bucket of about three li­tres of water has to be poured in that will push the faeces though the “J” shaped un­derground outlet and the remaining water is maintained in the bend that acts as an odour trap. Pit latrines are least costly, and are easily constructed and maintained.

It is structurally safe and therefore free from the risk of children falling into it and, thus, less frightening for people with mobil­ity problems.

It prevents hookworm transmission.

There is an immediate need for the author­ities to maintain such initiative and assis­tance to rural people, including the many informal settlements and constructed with­in the National Building Code of Fiji.

We are the signatories of the United Na­tions Conference on Sustainable Develop­ment Goals and we must adhere to what is stipulated in the sixth pillar, which states clean water and sanitation.

It defines access to safe water, sanitation and sound management of freshwater ecosystems which are essential to human health and to environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.

This is warranted to improve the living standards of our people.

Fiji 7s Team

Tomasi Boginiso, Nasinu

For Fiji Airways Fijian mens 7s Team to win the series they should be offered more money to prevent from being lured to over­seas clubs.

We have the London and Paris leg coming up and the World Cup around the corner.

We should have more money given to the players because they will be out there doing their best.

As Jerry Tuwai mentioned we do not have the money and the facilities, but it’s the guts that is giving the team victories.

Maybe a pension after their career will cer­tainly boost their morale and dedication be­cause a lot have suffered after their career when there is no source of income for them at all unless you had a job in place. Let’s get behind the boys and cheer them on.

Marbles, Tops and kites

Dharmendra Kumar, Suva

While writing this article I remembered the games I used to play. Outdoor games such as marbles, tops and kites have almost disappeared completely.

Children now prefer to sit in front of com­puters and with their mobiles.

I remember many years ago that at school and in the neighbourhood people played re­ally fun traditional games.

These games were a lot of fun and made people happy.

That is why it was played so commonly.

By playing these games you could inter­act freely with other people and make new friends.

Unfortunately, the internet has taken over and that is where children have fun now.

So this generation, when they look back at their childhood, they’ll talk about elec­tronic games.

They are choosing to stay inside rather than taking part in outdoor games.

For myself, I grew up in the 1980s and played these games.

No tablet computer or PC, no online games.

Unfortunately times have changed.

Parents, listen to this!

Providing your children with electronic gadgets because of your busy life is not the end of your duty.

Rather you will end up doing more harm. It affects the emotional, health and physical wellbeing of children.

Traditional outdoor games cut across gen­der and cultural divide and I believe we will have a better understanding of each other. We must revive these games.

Life is precious

Simon Hazelman, Savusavu

Over the past week three middled-aged men, all of whom I know, have passed away.

It is sad and unfortunate that these men have lost their lives earlier than they ought to have!

In this time and age it is extremely impor­tant that we show absolute respect for our wellbeing, and by that I mean that we need to choose rightly of what we drink and what we eat.

We need to get enough rest and exercise regularly.

In an age where everything and anything is readily available, it all boils down to the choices we make, so choose wisely and live a healthy, happy and long life.

It sure is easy to forget how precious it is to be alive!

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