A concerning report has emerged from St. Giles Hospital in Suva, with 57 new young patients testing positive for HIV, including a 14-year-old. This alarming rise in cases has been attributed to a risky practice known as ‘bluetoothing,’ where students share needles, inadvertently transmitting the virus through contaminated blood.
During the Annual Conference of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Sigatoka, Permanent Secretary for Justice Selina Kuruleca emphasized the serious implications of this practice on public health. With as of September 2023, 1.7 percent of students in Fiji, or approximately 3,519 youths, engaged in drug-related activities, the report underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.
Kuruleca highlighted the chilling reality behind the statistics, expressing concern over the many cases that go unreported. Last year, an evaluation by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council indicated a stark rise in drug-related incidents in schools, with a total of 3,627 cases recorded—comprising 1,578 in primary schools and 2,049 in secondary schools. This marks a 40 percent increase since 2018, signaling a growing public health crisis that cannot be overlooked.
These figures serve as a wake-up call for the community to take collective action towards addressing substance abuse and its deadly consequences. Collaboration among schools, parents, and health professionals is vital in combating this crisis, ensuring that young people have access to the resources and support they need to make healthier choices.
In a hopeful light, this alarming situation presents an opportunity for Fiji’s society to mobilize and strengthen prevention and education programs. Through awareness and proactive measures, there remains the potential to significantly reduce these troubling statistics and foster a healthier future for the nation’s youth.
Leave a comment