Please call 1560 or 1325 if you are facing domestic violence during this lockdown – Dr Fong

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong is urging everyone, if you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Helpline number 1560, or the child helpline at 1325.

He says help will come to you.

Doctor Fong says when it comes to COVID, staying at home is the safest course for all of us but in Fiji and around the world, we know there is an ugly side to lockdown measures.

He says without proper resources and support, they can make the already vulnerable more vulnerable than ever.

Doctor Fong also says Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama has called domestic violence an ugly scourge on our society.

He says the Prime Minister is absolutely right and during a crisis, we know these horrific crimes can occur more often.

Doctor Fong says someone, right now, is stuck at home with an abuser - that is a tragic reality that we cannot turn away from.

You can call at any time, any day of the week, to report a crime.

Even if you just need someone to talk to, call either of those numbers – 1560 or 1325.

That applies to children, for women, and for men as well.