The recent surge in youth admissions at St. Giles Hospital in Suva, where all 57 new patients tested positive for HIV, including a 14-year-old, has raised serious public health concerns. During a session at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution Annual Conference in Sigatoka, Permanent Secretary for Justice Selina Kuruleca attributed this alarming rise to the dangerous trend of ‘bluetoothing’ among students, a practice involving the sharing of needles for drug use. This behavior significantly increases the risk of transmitting HIV through contaminated blood.
Kuruleca emphasized the dire implications of this situation, pointing out that these new HIV cases among young individuals signal a broader public health crisis. She shared that as of September, 1.7 percent of Fiji’s student population – equating to 3,519 young people – were involved in drug-related incidents. Although this percentage might seem small, Kuruleca stressed that it still represents countless vulnerable lives at risk, not accounting for those cases that remain unreported.
Last year, the Substance Abuse Advisory Council, affiliated with the Ministry of Education, conducted an evaluation of drug abuse and trafficking among school students, revealing troubling statistics. In 2023 alone, there were 3,627 recorded drug-related incidents in schools, a significant increase that highlights a 40 percent rise since 2018.
In light of this growing crisis, it is imperative for the government and society at large to rally together to combat drug misuse among youth. Initiatives to promote awareness, provide education on the dangers of drug use, and reinforce measures in schools could have a positive impact on reducing these numbers. The plight of these young individuals calls for urgent intervention to safeguard their health and futures, emphasizing the need for community support and effective policies to address drug-related issues.
By working collaboratively, Fiji can foster a healthier environment for its youth, turning this troubling trend into an opportunity for change and support.
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