Fiji as of July 2018 has recorded 919 HIV and AIDS cases - Waqainabete

Fiji as of July 2018 has recorded 919 HIV and AIDS cases.

This was highlighted by the Minister for Health Ifereimi Waqainabete at the World AIDS Day celebration today in Suva.

Waqainabete says that more than 80 cases have been diagnosed per year since 2015.

He says that this increase of cases is a result of the decentralized services that Fiji initiated in 2015, where all sub‑divisional hospitals started confirming their own cases rather than sending it to one central point in Suva.

Waqainabete says that HIV in Fiji affects a varied range of people, though close to 70 to 80% are youths who fall within the age group of 20‑39 years of age.

He says that they were wanting to test 90% of our population, of which they want 90% on treatment and hoping to see that 90% of those on treatment are virally suppressed.

Waqainabete says testing becomes the gateway to treatment, and effective treatment is a great HIV prevention tool, it saves lives and prevents HIV transmission.

He says that today they also launch the, "TEST4KFJ," where they intend to test 4,000 youths who have been seen to be the most vulnerable population for HIV infection in Fiji.

Waqainabete says that HIV is not a death sentenceas treatment has been a game changer.

Waqainabete says that Fiji from the very beginning had faced significant amounts of stigma and discrimination towards people living with and affected by HIV though the picture today is different.

Waqainabete says that one great example is our first diagnosed case of 1989 is still alive and well.

He says that government has made commitments towards ensuring that all HIV positive patients are made available with free medications for HIV since 2004.