Recent reports indicate that 57 new youth patients at St Giles Hospital in Suva have tested positive for HIV, including a young individual aged just 14. During the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s Annual Conference held in Sigatoka, Selina Kuruleca, Permanent Secretary for Justice, brought attention to this alarming trend, attributing the spike in cases to the dangerous practice known as ‘bluetoothing.’ This method, where students share needles, has inadvertently led to the transmission of HIV through contaminated blood.
Kuruleca highlighted the seriousness of the situation, noting that as of September 2023, approximately 1.7 percent of Fiji’s student population—equating to around 3,519 youths—were involved in drug-related incidents. While this percentage may seem small, Kuruleca emphasized that even a single youth at risk is a matter of grave concern. She raised the point that these figures only reflect reported cases, leaving unreported incidents shrouded in obscurity.
The Substance Abuse Advisory Council under the Ministry of Education also conducted a study on drug abuse in schools, revealing that there were 3,627 documented drug-related cases in 2023 alone, a stark increase of 40 percent from 2018. This included 1,578 cases in primary schools and 2,049 in secondary schools, raising serious questions about the state of youth welfare in Fiji.
This growing challenge presents an urgent call to action for both education and health sectors to implement preventative measures and comprehensive support systems for affected youths. Awareness programs and improved access to health resources can help mitigate this crisis and create a more hopeful future for Fiji’s young population.
In summary, the recent rise in HIV cases among youths in Fiji, particularly linked to drug use and needle sharing, has highlighted the critical need for better support and preventive measures within schools and communities. While the statistics are concerning, they serve as a rallying point for collective action aimed at safeguarding the health and future of the nation’s youth.
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