Mock member of Parliament Cathy Ravudakua says true rehabilitation begins by educating the educators to build a generation free from substance abuse and misinformation about HIV and STIs.
During Friday’s mock Youth Parliament sitting, she called for parental awareness programs to be implemented across communities, especially in rural areas.
“We have children being born with HIV, what are their parents doing about this,” Ms Ravudakua questioned.
“I strongly recommend that we implement parental awareness programs across communities, especially in rural and suburb areas.
“These programs must equip parents with basic knowledge of positive parenting, communication, and emotional support.
“Because rehabilitation is just not about fixing what is in the program, it’s about building environment that are safe, nurturing and informed from the very beginning.”
She said the proposed National Youth Rehabilitation Program was long overdue.
“And while its intentions are good, the truth is, we are trying to solve the problem from the wrong end. It’s a bit like shutting the door after the horse has bolted.
“Too many children in Fiji are growing up in homes where smoking, drinking grog and witnessing unhealthy behaviours are seen as normal.
This creates a dangerous baseline. It teaches children often silently that addiction, stress, and poor health are simply part of life.”
Ms Ravudakua said we shouldn’t be shocked when these children grow older and begin experimenting with harder substances.
“We shouldn’t be because the pattern started much earlier.
“I firmly believe that education starts at home. That is the first school, and the parents are the first teachers.”
