147 new cases of HIV/AIDS recorded last year which includes 13 children

13 children were among the 147 cases of HIV/AIDS that was recorded in Fiji last year which is the highest ever recorded in the country since 1989.

Health Minister Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete revealed this while receiving $570,000 worth of HIV medication from Atlanta Medicare this afternoon.

Dr Waqainabete says 90 percent of these children were infected during pregnancy where the virus was transmitted from mother to child.

He says of the 147 new cases, 57 percent were males, 39 percent were female while 4 percent were transgender.

Dr Waqainabete says of the cumulative cases in the country, 78 percent of these individuals are on life changing HIV treatment.

He says several persons living with HIV who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were supported and have fully recovered however there was one death.

The Health Minister says this death was not due to COVID.