Not enough young people in Fiji are accessing the free sexual and reproductive health education available through the Ministry of Health’s digital platforms.
Speaking during a panel discussion on World Population Day, Head of Family Health, Dr Rachel Devi urged youths across the country to download the Youth Education on Sexuality (YES) app, a
government-backed digital tool designed to provide confidential, reliable, and youth-friendly information.
“While we provide the service, remember, this service is incomplete if you do not access it,” Dr Devi told the audience.
“You need to access the services, guys. It is your right.”
The YES app, available on the Google Play Store, offers information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), mental health, and direct access to relevant services.
Dr Devi said the app forms part of the ministry’s broader strategy to expand youth access to healthcare and combat misinformation.
“Don’t be just a Google searcher and say you’ve got this information.
“Let’s be personal and get credible information.”
Dr Devi noted that despite the app’s availability, it remains underutilised.
She said raising awareness about the app and encouraging more downloads is essential to the success of the ministry’s youth health initiatives.
“The YES app is there for young people in this nation.
“But we can’t stop at just providing services, we need to ensure those services are high-quality and widely accessed.”
Dr Devi said the ministry was also working on strengthening monitoring tools to assess the quality of health service delivery at ground level, particularly in line with its recently updated family planning policy.
