About 90 per cent of residents of State-owned aged-care homes are IndoFijians, says Sashi Kiran, the Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection.
Ms Kiran also said the majority of abandoned babies in orphanages were Indo-Fijians.
She told a cultural event organised by the Sanatan Nari Sabha (women’s wing) during the Sanatan International Convention in Lautoka on Saturday night it was a matter of concern that 90 per cent of residents of State-owned aged-care homes “are elders from our community”.
“All our homes are full to capacity and the demand is growing,” Ms Kiran said.
“We also see many abandoned babies in the many orphanages from our community.”
She said their mental health institutions had also rehabilitated members of the community.
Ms Kiran said faith-based organisations such as the Sanatan Nari Sabha had a huge role to play in shaping Fijian society.
“I urge the Sanatan Dharam Nari Sabha to ponder on these issues and look at the root causes to see how our community can contribute to being part of the solution.
“Over time I have realised that we learn a lot of soft skills by attending and helping out in cultural and communal events.
“Maybe it’s time to think about how we could help build the social skills of our children and engage them in creative activities through faith-based organisations.”
Ms Kiran said her ministry was looking at ways to address this issue.
“We are looking at a community-based care system to start off with in which the elderly who have nobody to look after them are in the care of the community.
“HART has developed a great model which is a great example of how this can work out.
“Within the HART community currently, the residents there are taking care of the elderly who have no one to look after them.
“This same model can be implemented in Indian communities around the country and our ministry is working on it.”
