There has been a gear shift in an international NGO’s desire to establish a drug rehabilitation centre in Fiji.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Health pushed the pedal down and received a partnership proposal from representatives of Drug-Free World International.
Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Penioni Ravunawa said the plans would be presented in Cabinet next week, and “hopefully we can get this off the ground”.
Under the proposal, Drug-Free World International ambassador Jessica Brown said their Narconon Program would be able to get rid of all drug residuals from drug addicts.
“Fiji is such a beautiful place,” Ms Brown said.
“It just needs assistance to help the population of unfortunate drug addicts.
“And we happen to have that system which is a very workable system.
“I’m looking forward to working with the Government to implement this and rehabilitate and help Fiji.”
Second ambassador Kerry Crutchfield said with the Narconon Program they would be able to ease the drug problem in the country.
“I think it’s a perfect project because a lot of people really don’t know if they have an addict in their family, how to handle it, what do you do?
“There’s pressure on the family, pressure on the community, their neighbours, so this will relieve that pressure and the community will come together.
“We also have rehabilitation and education on drugs.
Ms Crutchfield said the Narconon Program worked throughout the world and had a great success rate.
“It is drug free withdrawals.
“However, when you receive an addict, they go through a whole medical examination to ensure that they’re ready for withdrawals.
“And it is like a 12-step, very aligned program where you actually get them through withdrawals, you detox the addict.”
“You get rid of all the residuals and drugs which are there in their system through sonar and vitamins, nutrition and things like that.”
Ms Crutchfield said the program was one of the most successful in the world.
“There’s government recognition from all over the world with the success of this program.
“So it’s been tested, it’s successful.”
She said Fiji was not reinventing the wheel, “the system is already in place.”
Drug Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Fiji) CEO the Reverend Simione Tugi said the program has been around the world for more than 50 years has a 93 per cent success rate.
“We are not here to test the program,” he said.
“It’s already been tested and found to be very useful and very cool.
“So, all we need is to help the Government in the war against drugs in Fiji.”
