The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has announced that among the 552 reported cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) this year, the youngest individual diagnosed is under one year old. Dr. Rachael Devi, Head of Family Health at the Ministry, shared this information during the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Immunisation Coverage Survey Training at the Fiji National University (FNU) Campus in Tamavua.
Dr. Devi noted that the transmission typically occurs from mother to child. She stressed the importance of conducting more immunisation vaccination surveys, as these have significantly contributed to reducing the death rates among young children. She mentioned that, despite the reported cases, there is a growing possibility for infants to be born free from HIV.
“We’ve had many mothers who were HIV positive but delivered healthy, negative babies,” Dr. Devi stated. She explained the concept of “you equal to you,” which asserts that if a person is HIV positive and adheres to their treatment, maintaining an undetectable viral load, they cannot transmit the virus to their partners.
Dr. Devi urged expectant mothers to get tested early in their pregnancies. The immunisation coverage training will involve household surveys conducted in collaboration with the Bureau of Statistics, UNICEF, and the World Health Organisation (WHO). This initiative will include two weeks of training followed by field activities to assess vaccination coverage.
For mothers, she emphasized the importance of not hesitating to get tested, highlighting that many babies have been born healthy despite their mothers’ HIV status. Dr. Devi encouraged individuals to come forward for testing, as ignorance and refusal to seek treatment have led to unnecessary losses. “Get tested and obtain your results,” she appealed.