Fiji urgently requires a drug rehabilitation center, according to Reverend Simione Tugi, president of the Fiji Council of Churches (FCOC). Tugi stated that the illicit drug trade has exacerbated the nation’s drug addiction issues, resulting in a rise in drug-related crime and violence.
“We desperately need a rehabilitation center,” Tugi emphasized. “The creation of a drug rehabilitation center in Fiji, equipped with appropriate programs, will be a crucial step in combating drug addiction and helping individuals restore their lives.”
The council is collaborating with the California-based organization, Drug Free World, to increase awareness about drug problems in Fiji. An invitation was extended to Minister for Women and Children, Lynda Tabuya, and Health Minister, Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu, for a meeting with ambassador Jessica Brown from June 19 to June 21, with the aim of establishing a rehab center in Fiji.
Although this meeting was postponed, Brown is expected to return to Fiji in August or September, at which point another appointment will be scheduled.