545 cases of HIV/AIDS recorded in Fiji according to global report

545 cases of HIV/AIDS have been recorded in Fiji so far according to the 2015 Global AIDS Progressive Report.

While opening the National Capacity Building Training on the Prevention of HIV/AIDS Program, Permanent Secretary for Health Philip Davies said the trend of the HIV infection in Fiji continues to increase especially amongst the 20 to 29 years group followed by the 30 to 39 years category.

He says Fiji’s response to HIV has shown achievements and has also broken down barriers especially in the last 5 years.

Davies says Fiji has taken the lead role in introducing human rights based legislation as reflected in Fiji’s HIV/AIDS Decree and also in its policies and guidelines.

He says Fiji has taken bold steps to eliminate mother to child transmission by adopting the option B-Plus.

Davies says Fiji, reexamining its successes and challenges across the HIV Care and Treatment cascade has galvanized its national programmes by adopting the UNAIDS targets through its newly developed National Strategic Plan on HIV and STIs 2016-2020.

He says the 2016 – 2020 National Strategic Plan on HIV and STI has been endorsed by the HIV/AIDS Board and this will be released soon for implementation.

Davies says the prevention gap report gives the clear message that HIV prevention efforts need to be increased in order to stay on the Fast-Track to end AIDS by 2030.

He says we need to encourage more HIV testing in our community, assist those on treatment to stay on treatment and empower our young people to be resilient in saying no to situations that will put them at risk of STI, HIV, teenage pregnancy and suicide.