Fiji is facing a shortage of child psychologists and psychiatrists, as highlighted by Women, Children and Social Protection Minister Lynda Tabuya during a media conference. She emphasized the urgent need for improved child support services, stating that the ministry is struggling to recruit qualified professionals to work with children.
“The Government is committed to providing these essential services to children,” Ms. Tabuya remarked. She noted that child welfare offices are undergoing training to better address the psychological needs of children.
Ms. Tabuya urged the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health to attract psychiatrists and psychologists to Fiji. She also called on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to contribute to the protection of children.
Additionally, the ministry is in the process of developing the first National Action Plan aimed at preventing violence against children. “We are focusing on five key areas: traditional, immediate, educational, faith-based, and the family unit as a whole,” she explained. The approach involves a holistic view of families to support child welfare and ensure the safety of all family members.