The Ministry of Health and Services has announced that among the 552 reported cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) this year, the youngest individual infected is less than one year old. This information was shared by Dr. Rachael Devi, Head of Family Health at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, during the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Coverage Survey Training at the Fiji National University (FNU) Campus in Tamavua.
Dr. Devi highlighted that the primary method of transmission in this case is mother-to-child. She emphasized the importance of conducting more vaccination surveys, as vaccinations have significantly reduced the number of young child fatalities. While acknowledging that some infants could be born without the virus, she noted that numerous mothers who tested HIV positive have given birth to HIV-negative babies.
“There’s a concept we call ‘you equal to you,’ where if an individual is positive and adheres to their treatment, their viral load can be suppressed to undetectable levels, preventing transmission to partners,” Dr. Devi explained.
She urged expectant mothers to attend prenatal appointments and get tested for HIV during pregnancy. “This immunisation coverage training involves fieldwork and household surveys; we are collaborating with the Bureau of Statistics, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation (WHO), and we aim to commence a two-week training followed by on-ground operations,” she stated.
Dr. Devi reassured mothers that there is no need for fear in getting tested, noting that many healthy babies are born to HIV-positive mothers. She called for individuals to come forward for testing, emphasizing that some have lost their lives due to lack of awareness and refusal of treatment. “Get tested and receive your results,” she urged.