The Fijian government is moving forward with plans to establish the country’s first Child Wellbeing Centre. Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya confirmed that this initiative is backed by the government budget.
Tabuya explained that the centre will incorporate a clinical aspect aimed at rehabilitating children struggling with drug addiction. She highlighted the importance of reintegrating these children back into their families and communities, noting that many children turn to the streets because their families feel overwhelmed and unable to provide support.
“When children are involved with drugs, they often feel they pose a threat to their families due to their behavior,” Tabuya stated. “As a result, they leave home and find it easier to access drugs while living on the streets.”
The Child Wellbeing Centre program aims to provide a safe environment for these children, taking them off the streets with parental consent and offering drug rehabilitation services to facilitate their return to their families. The rehabilitation process is designed to last for one year.
Tabuya expressed gratitude towards Inspire Pacific, an NGO that has collaborated with the government in rehabilitating juvenile offenders. She acknowledged that drug abuse is a global issue, not just confined to Fiji.
“Fiji serves as a transit point for drugs,” she noted, emphasizing that the drugs available on the local market are unaffordable for the country. “We are a link for larger, developed nations in our vicinity.”