7 January, 2026, 10:01 am Central - 30°C Rain

MSP pilots project in school to raise awareness on drugs and HIV

MSP pilots project in school to raise awareness on drugs and HIV

By Navitalai Naivalurua
18/09/2025
MSP Grants Acquisition and Accountability Manager, Taniela Vinaka

With the HIV cases now being confirmed in young children as low as 13 years old, the Medical Services Pacific are piloting a new project focusing on our children in school.

MSP Grants Acquisition and Accountability Manager, Taniela Vinaka says the project involves awareness sessions with the students on drugs, injectable drug use, and HIV.

He says that before, people more than 29 years old would test positive for HIV, but now, it has shifted to this age group, which is why they have come up with a targeted plan to reach children in schools.

Vinaka says the project starts this month and will run for 1 year.

He hopes that they will scale this project to a national programme to serve all children in schools and communities.

Vinaka also highlighted that MSP does not limit itself to HIV or STI testing as they also provide other range of other services, such as Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender Base Violence services, self-protection, and other awareness or information.

He adds they also provide legal services, as they don't want to leave anyone behind in terms of the services.

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