Fiji is facing a significant public health challenge as St. Giles Hospital in Suva reports 57 new youth admissions who have all tested positive for HIV, including a 14-year-old. During the annual conference of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in Sigatoka, Permanent Secretary for Justice Selina Kuruleca highlighted the rising numbers, attributing this alarming trend to the dangerous practice known as ‘bluetoothing.’ This practice involves young individuals sharing contaminated needles to get high, inadvertently transmitting HIV among peers.
Kuruleca emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating that this practice is exacerbating the HIV epidemic among vulnerable youth, resulting in a wider public health crisis for the nation. According to statistics from September this year, approximately 1.7 percent of Fiji’s student population, equating to 3,519 young individuals, had reportedly engaged in drug-related incidents.
While Kuruleca acknowledged that this percentage may seem small, she argued that it still represents a significant risk to young lives. “Behind each of these numbers is a young life at risk,” she stated, raising concerns about the potential for many more cases that remain unreported due to various reasons.
Further investigations conducted last year by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council within the Ministry of Education revealed alarming figures, with 3,627 drug-related cases documented in Fiji’s schools in 2023. This includes 1,578 cases in primary schools and 2,049 in secondary schools, marking a distressing 40 percent increase since 2018.
In summary, the rise of HIV cases among youth in Fiji is reflective of a broader issue related to substance abuse and unsafe practices. While the statistics reveal a troubling trend, there is hope that increased awareness and targeted interventions can help curb this rising tide and promote healthier behaviors among the youth.
Positive Action Comment: It is crucial for community leaders, educators, and healthcare providers to collaborate in implementing effective prevention and education programs. With the right support and resources, there is hope for turning this trend around and safeguarding the health of Fiji’s youth.
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