The Fiji government is working on the establishment of its first Child Wellbeing Centre. Lynda Tabuya, the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, announced that this initiative is backed by the government budget.
The centre will feature a clinical component aimed at rehabilitating children struggling with drug addiction. Ms. Tabuya emphasized the importance of reintegrating these children into their families and communities.
She noted that children often leave their homes due to their families being unable to provide the necessary support. These children might feel that their behavior poses a threat to their families, prompting them to seek refuge on the streets where they can more easily access drugs.
The goal of the Child Wellbeing Centre is to bring these children off the streets and into drug rehabilitation programs with family consent, facilitating their reintegration back into their families. The rehabilitation program is designed to last for one year.
Ms. Tabuya expressed gratitude to Inspire Pacific, an NGO that has been collaborating with them to help rehabilitate juvenile offenders. She pointed out that drug abuse is a global issue, affecting many countries, including Fiji, which serves as a transit point for drugs. She warned that the illegal drugs available in Fiji are unaffordable and are primarily intended for larger developed nations in the region.