The mock Youth Parliament yesterday heard of the bleak future Fiji faces as the country’s youth head down a path of drugs, illness and stigma.
Mock Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Minister Quenton Mayer told the Parliament that last year alone 1500 new HIV cases were diagnosed – a staggering 281 per cent increase – and noted a 500 per cent rise since 2018.
“Organisations have estimated 60 per cent of those diagnosed were amongst the youth ages of 15 to 29,” Mayer said.
“These numbers have bumped Fiji from the second fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia Pacific to the fastest growing in the world, according to UNAIDS.”
He said even more concerning was the fact that the majority of newly confirmed transmissions were linked to drugs.
“Specifically, needle sharing, which is quite a shift from the historical pattern of HIV being transmitted sexually.
“This brings us to our drug issue today, which is surging with over 61 per cent of the cases last year involving youths between the ages of 18 and 35.”
He said these figures revealed the country’s youth were in crisis and “the time for action is now”.
“The establishment of a National Youth Rehabilitation Program is vital because it tackles the urgent gaps in education, awareness treatment, while also confronting the stigma that keeps young people silent.”
He said besides these stats, only 36 per cent of people living with HIV in Fiji know of their status.
“And just 24 per cent are on life-saving treatment.
“Many young people also lack essential knowledge of prevention, sexual health leading to high risk behaviours such as unprotected sex and needle sharing.”
Mayer said silence and stigma made the crisis worse by pushing it further into the shadows.
