The fact that consultant psychiatrist Dr Myrielle Allen has placed a figure on admissions at St Giles Hospital in Suva should make us sit up and take notice.
There are obviously questions that will be asked. Why have the figures gone up so high? What are some of the attributing factors out there that we need to be aware of? It is a concern, but it is also a glimpse at a major challenge we have before us.
These figures should give us a fair idea about the impact on the ground because it is translating to admissions. It should also force the powers that be to stop all the big talk, and get down to the business of addressing our challenge.
We have spoken so many times about rehabilitation centres and why we need them here in Fiji. For well over three years now at The Fiji Times, we have raised the issue, challenged the powers that be to do something about it, and got them talking about it. We have forced a relook at priorities and we can only hope, we empowered them to reach out and do something!
According to Dr Allen, St Giles may cross the 1000 admissions threshold by the end of this year, prompting fresh calls for the speedy establishment of a drug rehabilitation centre in the country.
Speaking during the Speaker’s Debate at the Grand Pacific Hotel on Tuesday, Dr Allen said the admissions at St Giles in 2021 hovered around 570.
The numbers were increasing, as they had 886 last year. She said, until the end of September, they already had 765 and monitoring the past four months, with average admissions in the 90s, she expected them to hit the 1000 mark by December.
Dr Allen said 68 per cent of those were re-admitted, which meant they had come to St Giles several times due to relapses, and for 32 per cent, it was their first contact with mental health. About 70 per cent of those admitted were substance use related.
About 92 per cent of substance users used more than one drug, and the most common ones were marijuana, methamphetamine, glue, and benzene.
She also listed 57 young people who were tested positive for HIV in a span of a year, 90 per cent were males, 10 per cent were females, and the youngest was 14 years old.
We have a serious issue before us. And it is well and good that our MPs are talking. Great! But again, we have been raising this issue for more than three years for crying out loud. The question now is do we have the political will to fight this the way we know we should be fighting it! Head on!
Minister for Health Dr Atonio Lalabalavu confirmed in June this year that there were plans to build drug rehabilitation centres in Fiji.
The issue was raised after Dr Rajesh Maharaj, of the Fiji College of General Practitioners (FCGP) made a plea to the Government about the need to construct rehabilitation centres as soon as possible because the drugs situation had become a national emergency.
In April this year, we acknowledged the Government for embracing the call for rehabilitation centres.
That was a start! And in May this year, Jessica Brown, an ambassador for US-based The Foundation for a Drug Free World met government officials to discuss awareness programs in schools, and more importantly, plans to set up a professional rehabilitation facility in the country.
We say the ball is in the court of the powers that be! Let’s walk the talk! Let’s embrace the urgency of this crisis!
