Reverend Semisi Turagavou, the President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, has called on parents to meet their responsibilities amid growing concerns about child neglect.
A recent report from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection indicates that 76 percent of abused and neglected children in Fiji come from Christian households. The report further highlights that 75 percent of these children are iTaukei. Reverend Turagavou emphasized that the significant presence of Christian families in these issues casts a negative light on the community.
“We acknowledge that there is a problem, and we will not shy away from it,” Reverend Turagavou stated. He added, “We take full responsibility because social issues within homes continue to rise despite numerous awareness campaigns.”
To tackle these social challenges affecting families and children, the church is considering scaling back on certain programs run by church circuits. Reverend Turagavou noted that some church activities have consumed time that could be spent with families, which has raised concerns among many members.
He observed that many congregants are dedicating excessive time to church-related activities, which detracts from family time. “We are trying to strengthen the family unit, which is where we should start. Otherwise, the negative effects will eventually impact the children,” he asserted.
Reverend Turagavou concluded by saying, “We will work with the congregation to reinforce family bonds, which will help resolve these issues.”