HIV testing should not scare anyone, as the outcome can be rewarding, says Jokapeci Tuberi, who has been living with HIV for over 20 years.
Stakeholders have come together to attend a two-day workshop on the prevention of HIV and AIDS in Fiji at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva.
Civil society organizations and stakeholders are participating in this workshop to raise awareness about HIV.
Sanaila Suguturaga, a representative from the Ministry of Education, emphasized that while schools play a crucial role in educating children about HIV, it is a collective responsibility.
“We need assistance from NGOs, government leaders, community leaders, parents, and everyone. Awareness is very important. This issue has been happening for a long time, but we are not discussing it often enough,” Suguturaga said.
“Teenage pregnancy has been an ongoing issue, but the concern about blood sharing is particularly alarming,” he added.
Jokapeci Tuberi from the Fiji Network for People Living with HIV highlighted the benefits of testing.
“As someone living with HIV, I really encourage people to come forward for testing. Even if they test positive, there are treatments available,” Tuberi said.
The annual number of new HIV cases in Fiji has surged from 82 in 2017 to a staggering 415 last year, with projections suggesting that the numbers could double again this year.
Data from UNAIDS released last year showed that Fiji has the fastest-growing HIV infection rate in the Asia-Pacific region and recorded the highest number of HIV-related deaths in the region in 2022, with 46 deaths.