As Fiji grapples with an increase in drug-related issues, the Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF) has made a pressing appeal regarding the recent find of used needles and syringes.
Amitesh Deo, the founder of PRF, highlighted the alarming trend as a serious threat to both recycling workers and the general public’s health and safety. He expressed grave concern over the hazardous waste being carelessly discarded in recycling bins, stating, “Such reckless actions endanger the lives of our recycling workers, who could come into contact with potentially contaminated needles.”
PRF has urged that all medical waste, particularly needles and syringes, be disposed of correctly and in secure locations. They pointed out that recycling programs are not designed to handle hazardous materials, and the presence of such items in the recycling stream could lead to severe injuries.
In light of this situation, the foundation is calling for greater vigilance and collaboration across all sectors to mitigate the risks associated with improper disposal of hazardous waste.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health is considering the implementation of syringe access legislation to curb the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which has been linked to practices such as drug use, needle sharing, and group sex. Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu acknowledged that the rising HIV cases are associated with ‘chemsex’, a practice involving drug use through shared needles. He expressed concern about the increasing rates of HIV transmission and underscored the need for new strategies to address the issue.