Fiji has recorded 725 HIV confirmed cases to date.

Speaking at the World AIDS day celebration in Nadi, Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar says this is a cumulative total since the first case was diagnosed in 1989 giving an average of about 20 new cases per year.

Since 1988, World AIDS Day has provided an opportunity to unite in the fight against the HIV–AIDS epidemic, show support for people living with HIV and celebrate the successes of HIV response in Fiji.

Akbar says World AIDS Day not only provides the opportunity to look back at Fiji’s HIV journey but also serve as an important reminder that the epidemic is still here and that more must be done to increase awareness and to eliminate prejudice.