Recent reports reveal a concerning public health crisis in Fiji as 57 new adolescents, including a 14-year-old, admitted to St. Giles Hospital in Suva, have tested positive for HIV. Permanent Secretary for Justice, Selina Kuruleca, highlighted this alarming statistic during the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution Annual Conference in Sigatoka, attributing the rise in cases to the dangerous practice known as ‘bluetoothing’. This method involves young individuals sharing needles, which leads to the transfer of HIV through contaminated blood.
Kuruleca stressed the severity of the situation, noting that as of September, 1.7 percent of Fiji’s school-aged youth, equating to approximately 3,519 students, engaged in drug-related activities. Although this figure may seem small, each case represents a vulnerable life, making the statistic alarming. She raised concerns about the potential number of unreported cases, indicating that the true extent of the issue could be significantly larger.
In a recent evaluation conducted by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council within the Ministry of Education, substantial findings underscored the crisis: there were 3,627 recorded cases of drug-related issues in Fiji’s schools in 2023 alone, a 40 percent increase since 2018. Broken down, this included 1,578 cases in primary schools and 2,049 in secondary schools.
This situation serves as a critical wake-up call for the community to take action in addressing drug use and its associated risks. By raising awareness and implementing preventative measures, there is hope for reducing these alarming statistics and providing support to at-risk youth.
Summary: Fijian officials report a sharp rise in HIV cases among youth, primarily due to risky needle-sharing practices. The statistics underline the urgent need for community awareness and intervention to curb drug use among adolescents.
Leave a comment