A grieving mother, Melesi Ratoto, has issued a poignant warning against drug use after losing her 26-year-old son, Ratunaisa Noeh Bill Vatunaruku, to complications from substance abuse just two weeks ago. Ms. Ratoto laid her son to rest in Votualevu, Nadi, last Wednesday, and in her sorrow, she has chosen to advocate against illicit drugs to prevent others from enduring a similar tragedy.
Medical professionals informed Ms. Ratoto that her son’s severe drug use had led to significant damage to his internal organs, specifically his kidneys and liver. “They told me his kidneys and liver were damaged, his organs were destroyed by excessive drug use,” she lamented.
With heavy emotion, Ms. Ratoto urged others to steer clear of drugs, saying, “Before you find yourself trapped with no way out like my son, please flee from drugs and avoid the places or friends that lead to death.”
Having witnessed firsthand the destructive effects of drugs on her son, she bravely shared her experience. She has been a single mother since her husband passed away two years ago, facing the daunting task of raising their children alone. Despite the love and guidance she provided, her son chose a different path, one that often left her questioning her own actions that could have contributed to his choices.
“He would do things that weren’t normal—walking out of the room without clothes, lost in his own world. He’d sleep for days, leaving me worried. At times, we had to call the Police because of his behavior. We were scared,” she recounted.
The heart-wrenching moment she remembers most is when the police had to take her son after he fell critically ill. “I had to rush to get him out, but he was in dire condition. When I took him to the hospital, he couldn’t even speak. I cried seeing my son like that. Losing a son to drugs is an unimaginable pain. God has His plans, and perhaps this can serve as a testimony to youths and anyone tempted by hard drugs. Please, before you get entangled, don’t take that path. Run away from places or friends that lead to death.”
During the funeral, family members emphasized the importance of raising awareness among parents about safeguarding their children from drugs. Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, revealed that while visiting young workers in Nadi, she learned of eight wheelbarrow boys who died from alleged drug overdoses this year.
“They have agreed to have a few consultations and training to help them with de-addiction, financial literacy, and reintegration into work life,” Ms. Kiran stated. “The Ministry of Youth and Sports is committed to working with these young men to find a better life.”
Dr. Luisa Cikamatana, a chief medical advisor at the Ministry of Health, acknowledged the reality of this crisis in Fiji. While she did not provide specific statistics on young deaths linked to drug abuse, she highlighted the severe risks associated with substance use, stating that harmful substances could introduce dangerous poisons or bacteria into the bloodstream.
“When patients come in, we conduct tests to identify the toxins in their blood, relying heavily on our medical history and physical exams,” Dr. Cikamatana said. She also expressed concern about rising cases of HIV and other infectious diseases related to drug use, emphasizing that an anti-narcotics strategy is in place, focusing on measures to reduce drug supply and promote harm reduction.