General practitioners have been urged to take a more active role in protecting children from drugs, alcohol, smoking and vaping.
Founding member of the Fiji College of General Practitioners, Dr Ramswamy Ponnu Swamy Goundar, told the General Practitioners Annual Conference yesterday that doctors should not limit their work to clinics, but extend their influence into nearby schools.
He encouraged each GP to adopt one school in their area and spend time each week speaking to students about the harmful effects of alcohol, smoking, vaping and drugs.
“Effects of smoking and drinking. It is becoming a common thing in our children,” he said.
“Go into this service at least. Once a week, some schools. And this is my humble request for you to do that.”
Dr Goundar said substance use was becoming increasingly common among children, and many students did not fully understand the long-term consequences.
He said doctors were well placed to explain those dangers in a way children, teachers and parents could understand.
Dr Goundar said GPs could make a meaningful difference by visiting schools regularly and treating prevention as part of their community service.
He said children often viewed smoking, vaping and drinking as something exciting or grown-up, without understanding the damage it could cause.
“They do not know the effect of it.
“They think it’s a big thing to smoke and vape and drink.”
He said regular visits by doctors could help reduce the impact of drugs and alcohol among young people.
Dr Goundar said teachers and parents would welcome such support, especially at a time when concern over substance abuse among children was growing.
