HIV testing should not scare anyone, as the outcome can be rewarding says Jokapeci Tuberi, who’s been living with HIV for over 20 years.

Stakeholders have come together to attend a two-day workshop, on Prevention of HIV and AIDS in Fiji, at the Southern Cross Hotel in Suva.

Civil Society organisations and stakeholders are attending a two days workshop on HIV awareness.

Representative of the Ministry of Education Sanaila Suguturaga says while schools play a significant role in educating children on HIV, it is everyone’s responsibility.

“We need assistance from both, NGOs, Government leaders, community leaders, parents, and everyone. Awareness is very important, this issue have been happening for a long time now, but we are not talking about it often”, Suguturaga said.”

“Teenage pregnancy has been an ongoing issue, but this issue of blood sharing is really concerning”, he added.

Jokapeci Tuberi from the Fiji Network for People Living with HIV has attested to the benefits of Testing.

“I as a person living with HIV, I would really see people coming fourth for testing, and also if they are HIV positive, there are treatment available”, Tuberi said.

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 last year put Fiji second in the Asia-Pacific region with the fastest growing HIV infection as well as recording the highest HIV-related deaths in the region in 2022, with 46 deaths.