Bula
Two stories make the front page of The Fiji Times for Wednesday, May 14.
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Synopsis
A new frontline!
Is there a better way to fight the drug war than to involve those who have had first hand experience of its horrors and the damage it can cause? At least that’s the way forward for the vanua o Suva!
In a move to combat drug use and related violence, 14 former drug addicts there have stepped up to become community wardens in their settlements.
They are working alongside the police to prevent the spread of drugs and violence against women, girls and children
Turaga na Tui Suva Ratu Sanaila Mudunavosa said the initiative came off village meetings where the former addicts volunteered to lead by example, using their experiences to help others break free from substance abuse.
The former addicts, he said, had spoken up during the village meetings and decided to come forward and say ‘yes’ to being drug wardens.
Under this scheme, he said, the wardens would be the first point of contact when drug-related cases emerged in their settlements and would coordinate directly with police to report regularly during village meetings on changes in behaviour and any progress in their areas.
“We need to think of our children and how their future will be if this drug takes over our lives,” he said.
“This initiative not only aims to curb drug use but also reduce violence against women and children, which community members say is often linked to substance abuse.”
It is a great initiative.
The real challenge for the vanua though, lies in making it work. And that will require engagement from all stakeholders. That means the leaders, families, churches, schools, and individuals must be engaged!
We need such thinking now as we face the harsh reality of drug addiction in our communities.
We need to be a step ahead of those pushing illicit drugs.
As we continue the fight for rehabilitation centres around the country, this is another way of being engaged, directly influencing change at the level of the addicts and those using drugs!
We can’t all be police officers or members of our security forces, but we can still be part of the process of assisting to change mindsets!
That starts within us first!
Change starts with each of us. It means changing our attitudes, our conversations, and our willingness to get involved.
Whether it’s mentoring youth, supporting recovering addicts, or simply being vigilant in our neighbourhoods, there is a role for everyone in this fight.
By empowering those who once struggled with addiction to now lead, the vanua o Suva is sending a powerful message: redemption is possible, and everyone has a part to play in building safer, healthier communities! What a way to go!
