43 new reported HIV cases in Fiji from January to October this year - Akbar

There have been 43 new reported HIV cases in Fiji from January to October this year.

This has been highlighted by the Minister for Health Rosy Akbar during the opening of World Aids Day celebration in Lautoka today.

She says Fiji continues to have an increase in the number of new HIV infections especially amongst our young people from the age of 19 to 29 years.

Akbar says Fiji has a total of 725 confirmed HIV cases to date.  

She says although we continue to have new HIV infections amongst our young adults, Fiji has been able to reduce new HIV infections amongst newborns from HIV positive mothers.

She says in strengthening the HIV Testing Service and ensuring that its accessible at community level, they have been able to expand from one to 13 HIV testing sites.

She says the number of people on treatment has slowly grown since the introduction of anti-retro viral treatment in 2010.

Akbar highlights that 320 HIV patients in Fiji are on anti-retro viral treatment, and that Fiji is on the right track of achieving the goals of eliminating mother to child transmission before 2030.