selective focus of negative and positive hiv blood sample test on red background Photo: Copyright: lightfieldstudios
The Fijian government says it will step up efforts to tackle increasing cases of HIV/AIDS in the country.
In June, the country's health minister revealed 245 cases of the disease in 2022, compared to 151 in 2021, while the number of deaths are also rising.
Data from UNAIDS released last month put Fiji second in the Asia-Pacific region with the fastest growing HIV infection as well as recording the highest HIV-related deaths in the region last year - 46.
Health secretary Dr James Fong told The Fiji Times a nationwide screening programme will be rolled out.
He said the objective of the initiative is to remove stigma, get more people to be tested and seek appropriate treatment.
In 2014, Fiji was noted to have a low-level AIDS epidemic, with fewer than 1000 people estimated to be living with HIV.
"A combination of engaged leadership, integrated multisectoral action, evidence-informed and rights-based approaches and people-centred partnerships are behind the country's success in the response to HIV," UNAIDS said at the time.
"The Fijian strategy provides important lessons to help ensure greater progress across broader sustainable development issues and goals."
UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Jan Beagle had said then that "the most effective results can only be achieved through partnership, across sectors, through strong leadership and with community at the centre. By taking AIDS out of isolation, the impact can go far beyond the AIDS response."
Dr Fong said tackling the HIV/AIDS issue needed to be a "whole of government" effort.
"It gives us more hope in mitigating the rise in cases, when we see the new screening programme. So, we're working on sorting out a screening program where people can get registered," he told the newspaper.
"The positives will be linked to a treatment programme that will allow us to suppress the viral load. The negatives will get linked to an ongoing support programme that allows them to be tested over a period of time."
According to the AIDS data hub, there are 2000 people living with HIV in Fiji. The Fijian government allocated Fijian $FJ200,000 for its HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Programme in the 2023-2024 Budget in June.
There were 39 million people living with HIV globally in 2022.
