Bula
It’s dark and overcast here today in the Capital City… a bit of rain but hopeful it will be fine later in the day as it usually does.
We have three stories on the front page for Friday, May 9.
Wraparound: We also have a wraparound over the front page and it’s on the big Fijian Drua game against the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific.
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Synopsis
Let’s make this happen!
Finally! After all these years of advocating and pushing for drug rehabilitation centres in Fiji, we seem to be getting somewhere.
There has been a gear shift in an international NGO’s desire to establish a drug rehabilitation centre here.
The Ministry of Health has finally pushed the pedal down and received a partnership proposal from representatives of Drug-Free World International.
In our front page yesterday, we had Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Penioni Ravunawa confirming plans would be presented in Cabinet next week.
So we have Cabinet finally set to discuss this issue next week, especially the proposed partnership.
Mr Ravunawa said this after receiving the proposal at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Suva this week.
The Minister for Health Minister, he said, would make a submission to the next Cabinet meeting.
“Hopefully, we can get this off the ground. It’s good for Fiji,” he said.
It was important that all stakeholders, he said, take a strong step towards the fight against drug abuse and the use of illicit drugs.
We agree. It is critically important for us to all be engaged. And this is why we have been strongly pushing for this over the past four years.
Understandably emphasis would also have to be on fighting the movers and shakers of hard drugs in the country, but we have always said that we can assist law enforcement agencies which have to take the lead role.
There also has to be emphasis on the homefront and that’s we come in.
We are talking about awareness on the homefront, in our communities, and our education system.
Then there is the emphasis that has to be placed on dealing with addiction.
And when you talk about methamphetamine addiction for instance, it certainly is going to be a massive challenge. It isn’t a walk in the park sort of thing.
Getting out of this addiction would demand special facilities and experts to attend to addicts.
It would mean facilitating such a need urgently as we reflect on the rising number of cases and addicts.
So for The Fiji Times, it has been about keeping the topic at the forefront of news coverage. It has been about pushing for rehab centres as a way to deal with the drug challenge we are facing now.
There are addicts who want to get out of the habit. Their challenge is always going to be on trying to find a way to do that.
Addiction can be overpowering. It saps the life out of those impacted, and tears at the heart of the family structure.
In the face of this, we have to remain realistic.
Even countries with advanced security and health systems, and massive budgets continue to struggle with drug-related issues.
That is no reason though for us to do nothing. Every step forward matters. A rehabilitation centre may not solve the entire problem, but it is an essential piece of the puzzle.
With this, we show a commitment to addressing addiction not just as a law-and-order concern, but as a public health crisis.
We look up to the Government to seize this moment and to Cabinet members to consider the proposal.
We look to the masses to remain engaged. Let’s face it, this is a fight that affects us all.
For those struggling with addiction, there is a real chance of recovery, and for us as a nation, this would be a major step forward in dealing with a crisis.
Let’s make it happen!
