Recent reports indicate that St Giles Hospital in Suva has recorded 57 new youth admissions who have tested positive for HIV, including a notably young 14-year-old. During the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution Annual Conference in Sigatoka, Permanent Secretary for Justice Selina Kuruleca attributed this alarming trend to a risky practice known as “bluetoothing.” This involves young people sharing needles, which can lead to the transfer of contaminated blood and the subsequent spread of HIV among drug users.
Kuruleca highlighted that as of September, approximately 1.7 percent of students in Fiji, amounting to 3,519 individuals, have been involved in drug-related incidents. While this percentage may seem small, she emphasized that even a single case is too many, especially considering the potential for many more unreported cases that exist.
An evaluation conducted by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council under the Ministry of Education revealed troubling statistics regarding drug abuse in schools. In 2023, there were 3,627 documented drug-related incidents within Fiji’s educational institutions, with 1,578 cases in primary schools and 2,049 in secondary schools. This represents a staggering 40 percent increase since 2018.
This situation underscores the urgent need for effective interventions and preventive measures to address substance abuse among the youth, which could potentially halt the spread of HIV and save lives. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, educational institutions, and communities are vital to create awareness, provide support, and ensure a healthier future for these young individuals.
Hopefully, with increased awareness and targeted action, the trend of drug abuse and its associated health risks can be reversed, leading to a decline in such alarming statistics in the future.
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