Saukuru Cautions Youths Against HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru has called on youths to be wary of rising HIV/AIDS and drug cases in Fiji.

The country is fighting an uphill battle with the rising number of HIV/AIDS, he said.

Drugs have also been cited as one of the main reasons for HIV/AIDS through Bluetoothing and Chemsex.

“I remind our young people that HIV/AIDS and drug abuse are serious threats to our health and well-being,” Mr Saukuru said.

“I encourage all of you to stay away from these harmful activities and focus on developing your talents and skills.”

There have been 82 lives lost to HIV last year, he said.

In March, the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Atonio Lalabalavu revealed in Parliament that the ministry is aware of the link between the use of illicit drugs and HIV cases.

Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru.

Bluetoothing is when one uses an injectable drug syringe filled with diluted methamphetamine, an injecting drug user (IDU) draws blood from oneself, shares the syringe with another, and can then pass it on to a third person.

Chemsex is the common practice of taking drugs for sexual activity and is mostly common with youths.

“Activities such as Bluetoothing for HIV drug users and Chemsex among the younger population are fuelling the rise in new HIV cases,” Dr Lalabalavu said.

The ministry recorded 415 new HIV cases from January to December last year compared to 245 in the same period in 2022.

Of the number of patients, 298 were males, 122 were females and four were transgender.

About 31 cases were teenagers, aged between 15 to 19 years.

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