The number of new HIV/AIDS cases reported in 2024 has increased by 33 percent compared to the previous year, according to Dr. Oripa Waqa, an Assistant Professor of Oral Surgery at Fiji National University. Speaking at the annual conference of the Fiji Oral Health Association in Nadi over the weekend, Dr. Waqa highlighted that the issue is particularly pronounced among the productive age group in Fiji.
Dr. Waqa stated that there are currently 2,600 adults living with HIV/AIDS in Fiji. She noted that the statistics available for 2024 only cover the first half of the year. “As of June 2024, the number of new cases is 33 percent higher than the entire year of 2023,” she explained.
In terms of specific age groups, she reported that there have been 50 new diagnoses among individuals aged 15 to 19, and 137 new cases in the 20 to 24 age group. Additionally, 128 new cases were recorded for those aged 25 to 29. Dr. Waqa emphasized that recent cases are primarily among individuals under 39 years old.
She pointed out that many statistics remain unrecorded by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, likening the situation to an iceberg, where the visible numbers only represent a fraction of the reality. “While these statistics show a concerning trend, there is likely much more happening beneath the surface.”