SUVA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,583 new HIV cases were recorded last year in Fiji, including 126 deaths, a dramatic increase that has raised alarm across the island nation.
The country's Health Minister Atonio Lalabalavu made the remarks at the Development Partner Roundtable on Fiji's HIV Outbreak Response on Thursday.
Of those, 490 cases were detected in just the last three months.
The Central Division accounted for nearly 70 percent of the new infections, with 1,100 cases.
Lalabalavu said the 20 to 29 age group is the most affected, while men made up 70 percent of all new diagnoses.
Particularly concerning is the rise in mother-to-child transmission, with 32 newborns diagnosed with HIV -- an indicator of ongoing gaps in antenatal care and prevention strategies.
The minister said the Fijian Government has committed nearly 6 million Fijian dollars (around 2.7 million U.S. dollars) toward HIV response efforts, including funding for medicines, testing, and prevention programs.
HIV should not be a death sentence in Fiji, he said, urging Fijians to get tested and know their status. ■
