Olivia Tawake stresses collective action to address drugs and HIV in Fiji

If we want to tackle drugs we need to tackle HIV.

This has been highlighted by the representative from the Taskforce for Juvenile and Street Kids in Fiji, Olivia Vosarewa Tawake during the Asia Foundation Cultural, Heritage and Religious Freedom and Tolerance Symposium where she says as drug usage goes up, HIV cases will also increase because of what we are going through now due to the use of needles for drugs.

Tawake says when you have humbleness, you will do anything to help others.

She says qualities such as loyalty and honesty play a significant role in supporting those experiencing challenges related to drug addiction and other social problems.

Tawake says in Fiji there is a tendency to belittle individuals involved in illegal activities and exacerbating the problem.

She says the importance of collaboration among individuals, stakeholders, and the government to address issues related to drugs, HIV, and other social challenges effectively.

Constitutional lawyer, Jon Apted says HIV is now a crisis in Fiji and the challenge that we are facing is that people are not getting tested.

Apted says we need to convince people to get tested.