Cabinet will discuss Fiji’s proposed needle and syringe exchange program at its next sitting later this month, with the Government already holding sufficient supplies of needles and syringes in its warehouse – but requiring legal changes before the program can be rolled out.
This was confirmed by Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, who said the Cabinet subcommittee on National HIV Emergency was considering the program, with amendments to existing legislation expected to follow Cabinet endorsement.
National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response chair Dr Jason Mitchell explained that the program would work by making sterile needles, syringes and drug-mixing equipment available to people who inject drugs, with approved agents and peer outreach workers involved in distributing the equipment.
He said the program was necessary because people were struggling to obtain sterile injecting equipment and, as a result, some were sharing needles and other equipment.
He said the purpose was to reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C caused by unsafe injecting practices.
“The Government is very clear about the difference between supporting drug use and supporting safe drug use,” he said.
He said the health sector’s responsibility was to reduce the harm associated with risky drug use, while the criminal aspects of illegal drugs remained the responsibility of law-enforcement agencies.
The program would also be linked to rehabilitation services, with Dr Mitchell describing needle and syringe services as an important entry point for people seeking help to stop using drugs.
However, he said Fiji needed more accessible and quality rehabilitation programs for the two approaches to work together.
