FIJI’S youth have been challenged to take a greater part in the national HIV epidemic.
Law student Asenaca Solinadrotini told the 2nd Pasifika Philosophies Conference last week that young people must take responsibility.
“What do you have to offer to address this issue of HIV? What else is the government and Ministry of Health doing?” she asked.
Solinadrotini highlighted that while the government has the budget to address these issues, there are few practical measures and actions being taken on the ground.
“For a national crisis, the government should do more. So, the practical action is not there and that is a big concern for me,” Solinadrotini said.
As a nationally trained HIV agent Solinadrotini encouraged the youth to take responsibility, since the majority of those affected by HIV are young people.
“We have a responsibility… youth have the power and they need to take responsibility as leaders being out there to advocate, address these issues, and to discuss it openly.”
Solinadrotini told participants that as future leaders “our action plan for tomorrow begins today.”
She stressed that during community visits, she discovered many people lack proper access to HIV information, awareness programs, and relevant education.
Apart from the health issues, Solinadrotini highlighted the growing issue of youth tokenism in high-level discussions, saying that youth are not being included from the beginning during the planning or setting the agenda for the program.
From her experience attending panels and youth forums, she emphasized the need for youth inclusion starting from the planning to setting of the conference agendas and also the shaping the final outcomes.
While she pushed for greater youth inclusion, she highlighted that Fiji still failed to provide the necessary space for young people to actually evolve as leaders.
“The space for them to evolve as leaders is just not present,” she said, making a request to give youths the space they need so they can “stretch their wings and fly like butterflies.”
“Youth really had to be here, because they were talking about a strategy plan for years to come, and the majority of the people who were present at the event today won’t be here,” she stated.
She stressed that everything planned and discussed at such forums is intended for the future and that future belongs to young people.
“It’s not for the elders, but it’s for the youth,” she said.
