Commissioner Northern, Uraia Rainima, has advised parents not to delay the registration of their newborns as this may hinder their ability to access Government assistance for children.

Mr Rainima highlighted this during a village sitting in Naviavia, Wailevu, Cakaudrove, recently.

There have been instances where parents, after the delivery of their child, delay the registration process at designated Birth, Death and Marriage (BDM) offices.

Village headman Sade Marika backed this advise by the Commissioner and said parents must act accordingly to avoid any disappointment.

He said parents should not wait until preschool or Year 1 of primary to get their child registered with a birth certificate.

Also present at the sitting was the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete, who clarified that enough registration awareness had been conducted in respective villages around the country.

“We need to change this mindset where parents must see that every child in the household is registered with a birth certificate so that Government can assist them,” he stressed.

The village falls in the vicinity of the Savusavu medical subdivisional area and all information should be available at these centres. Mr Marika also expressed his gratitude for the continuous effort of the Government.

Story By: Sampras Anand

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