The Fijian Government is working to establish its first Child Wellbeing Centre, according to Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya. This initiative is backed by the government’s budget and aims to address the issue of child addiction.
Ms. Tabuya explained that the unit will incorporate clinical services to assist children struggling with drug addiction. An essential aspect of the program is to facilitate the reintegration of these children into their families and communities.
“Children who are involved with drugs often feel compelled to leave their homes because their families can no longer support them,” Ms. Tabuya noted. “They may perceive themselves as a danger to their families due to their behavior while under the influence of drugs, leading them to seek refuge on the streets where drug access is easier.”
The goal of the Child Wellbeing Centre is to provide a safe space for these children, with appropriate consent from their families, to undergo drug rehabilitation and subsequently return to their homes. The rehabilitation program is planned to last for one year.
Ms. Tabuya expressed gratitude to Inspire Pacific, an NGO that has been instrumental in helping rehabilitate juvenile offenders in Fiji. She emphasized that drug abuse is a global issue, not just one that affects Fiji.
“Fiji serves as a transit point for drugs,” she stated. “The substances sold in our market are unaffordable for our country. We act as a conduit for larger, developed nations in proximity to us.”