Reverend Semisi Turagavou, the President of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, is calling on parents to take charge of their responsibilities. A report from the Ministry of Women and Social Protection highlights child neglect as a significant issue, revealing that 76 percent of abused and neglected children come from Christian households, with 75 percent being of iTaukei descent.
Reverend Turagavou expressed that this alarming statistic casts a negative light on the community. He acknowledged the problem, stating, “We will not shy away from it.” He emphasized the need for accountability as social issues within households continue despite various awareness initiatives.
In response to these concerns, the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma is considering scaling back certain church programs. Reverend Turagavou pointed out that some activities take away from valuable family time, a concern that has been voiced by many congregants.
He noted that spending too much time on church events affects family dynamics and stressed the importance of reinforcing family bonds to protect children from adverse outcomes. “We will work with the congregation to strengthen family ties to help tackle these issues,” he stated.