The global prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is on the decline, yet Fiji is experiencing a different scenario. Health Minister Dr. Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu addressed this issue during a parliamentary session on Wednesday.
In response to questions from Opposition MP Virendra Lal regarding the spike in HIV cases, Dr. Lalabalavu was pressed to outline the specific actions being implemented to address the rising HIV and drug-related offenses among the youth.
Dr. Lalabalavu indicated that Fiji is poised to become the second-fastest growing nation for HIV cases in the Asia Pacific, following the Philippines. He noted that the government has identified injectable drug use as a key issue contributing to the problem in Fiji.
According to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, there have been 552 reported cases of HIV between January and June of this year. Out of these, 15 percent were linked to injectable drug use, marking a concerning milestone for the nation, according to Dr. Lalabalavu.
To tackle these challenges, the Ministry is intensifying its HIV response related to drug use, striving to enhance testing and treatment services throughout Fiji in a more decentralized manner. The government has earmarked $200,000 in the current budget specifically to strengthen the HIV response efforts.