St. Giles Hospital in Suva has reported a significant rise in youth admissions, with 57 new cases testing positive for HIV, including a 14-year-old. This alarming trend was highlighted by Permanent Secretary for Justice Selina Kuruleca during the Annual Conference of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in Sigatoka.
Kuruleca attributed this increase to the harmful practice known as “bluetoothing,” where students share needles for drug use, resulting in the transmission of HIV through contaminated blood. She expressed grave concern over this method’s role in exacerbating HIV spread among young substance users, contributing to a wider public health emergency.
As of September, it was revealed that 1.7 percent of Fijian students—equating to 3,519 individuals—were involved in drug-related incidents. Kuruleca emphasized that this percentage, while seemingly small, represents several young lives at risk. She questioned the accuracy of the statistics, implying that many cases likely go unreported.
A recent evaluation conducted by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council under the Ministry of Education indicated that drug-related incidents in schools have escalated significantly, with 3,627 cases reported in 2023—a stark 40 percent increase since 2018. The breakdown showed 1,578 of these cases were in primary schools and 2,049 in secondary schools, raising urgent concerns about the state of youth welfare in Fiji.
In addressing this issue, it is vital for community leaders, educators, and health officials to collaborate and create comprehensive prevention and education programs. By raising awareness and offering support, there is potential for change and recovery among affected youth. The focus moving forward should be on reducing stigma, providing accessible treatment options, and fostering a supportive environment for rehabilitation.
This situation highlights a critical need for community intervention, and with the right actions, there is hope for a brighter future for these young individuals and a reduction in the prevalence of drug-related issues in schools.
Leave a comment