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 gathered for a two-day workshop on HIV and AIDS prevention in Fiji, held at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva.
Civil Society organizations and stakeholders are participating in this workshop to raise HIV awareness.
Sanaila Suguturaga, a representative of the Ministry of Education, emphasized the role of schools in educating children about HIV, stating that it is everyone’s responsibility.
“We need assistance from NGOs, government leaders, community leaders, parents, and everyone. Awareness is very important; this issue has been ongoing for a long time, but we are not discussing it often,” Suguturaga said.
“Teenage pregnancy has been an ongoing issue, but the concern about blood sharing is really alarming,” he added.
Jokapeci Tuberi from the Fiji Network for People Living with HIV highlighted the benefits of HIV testing.
“As a person living with HIV, I would encourage people to come forward for testing, and if they are HIV positive, there are treatments available,” Tuberi stated.
The annual number of new HIV cases has surged from 82 in 2017 to a staggering 415 last year alone, with projections suggesting that the numbers could double again this year.
Data from UNAIDS released last year placed Fiji second in the Asia-Pacific region for the fastest-growing HIV infection rate and recorded the highest HIV-related deaths in the region in 2022, with 46 deaths.