Health Bill faces push for stronger safeguards

Stronger safeguards are being sought for Fiji's health laws, with calls to officially recognize domestic violence and child protection as critical public health concerns. Professor Shaista Shameem, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fiji, has strongly advocated for this change.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Professor Shameem argued that abuse and child welfare issues require greater acknowledgment within the proposed Public Health Amendment Bill. She emphasized that these are not merely social problems but issues with significant public health ramifications that demand a robust legal and policy response.

The push for these amendments highlights a growing awareness of the interconnectedness between social issues and public health outcomes in Fiji. By elevating these concerns to public health matters, lawmakers aim to facilitate more comprehensive interventions and resource allocation to address the root causes and impacts of domestic violence and child maltreatment.

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abuse and child welfare concerns require stronger recognition under the proposed Public Health Amendment Bill.