A drug Rehabilitation Centre will be operational at Simla, Lautoka next month.
The rehabilitation centre is funded by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection in partnership with Empower Pacific.
Speaking at the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signing in Lautoka yesterday Minister for Women Sashi Kiran said Government was piloting this project, namely the Na Sala Vou program.
“The Na Sala Vou program is Fiji’s structured, adolescent-specific, 12-week residential treatment program for boys aged 13 to 17,” she said.
“It is designed to provide a safe, therapeutic sanctuary where young people can heal, learn, and rebuild their lives.”
Ms Kiran said the program is built on the 12-step principles with values such as honesty, courage, humility, discipline, love, and service. Values that align deeply with our cultural and spiritual foundations. She explained the program would be a holistic, culturally grounded approach that recognises the importance of spirituality, vanua, connectedness, and collectivism in the healing journey.
Also included in the program are peer-led support and talanoa-based group therapy sessions, harm reduction strategies, integration with national HIV prevention efforts, evidence-based therapeutic models, life skills and personal development programs and aftercare and reintegration strategies. Ms Kiran said the program’s impact would be profound.
“Because every child saved is a family restored, a community strengthened, and a future reclaimed. Beyond funding, this partnership represents something deeper — a shared belief that every child deserves a second chance. A belief that recovery is possible. A belief that healing is not just an individual journey, but a collective responsibility.”
Empower Pacific CEO Patrick Morgam said the centre would operate with the highest standard of care guided by evidence-based practices. “Our vision is clear every male who walks through the door of this centre will leave stronger, healthier and equipped to contribute positively to the community,” he said.
