We don’t have an alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre in Fiji - Volatabu

We do not have an alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre in Fiji and the Saint Giles Hospital does not have a programme for drug addicts.

This has been highlighted by Drug-Free World Fiji Founder Kalesi Volatabu while speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.

Volatabu says they needed to reach out to the Saint Giles Hospital in 2019 because of the data they received and the increasing number of what was happening on the street.

She says they touched base with Saint Giles Hospital because it was perceived to be the mental institution and at the same time they were trying to see if there is any help they can offer.

She says they started workshop sessions with 5 patients and they came to a stage they were sitting with about 35 people, both male and female.

Volatabu says drugs is complex on its own because everybody either do not want to talk about it because there are too many taboo subjects and there is a shame factor attached to it.

She says if there is stigma attached to it then people will not come out and reach for help.

She says when they got into Saint Giles, they did not care what drugs they were on and where they came from; it was a talanoa with a family member.

The founder says they were seeing the increasing number of young people coming through and having conversations with them.

Volatabu adds they have a close relationship with the Police in terms of giving out booklets but they are not a law enforcement agency.