Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete [Source: Fijian Parliament]

A total of 930 HIV/AIDs cases were recorded from 1989 to 2018 in Fiji.

During his Ministerial Statement in Parliament today, Minister for Health Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete says in 2018 alone, there were 72 new AIDs cases.

Dr Waqainabete says to date, 117 people have died from the killer disease while 468 people are living with HIV but are being treated.

“359 or 77% are those on treatment and 444 are adults on treatment. The total number of infants on follow-up and treatment for HIV is 13, the number of children is seven, in the last five years, and an average of seven pregnant women per annum is being diagnosed with HIV in pregnancy.”

Dr Waqainabete says there’s no significant difference between the rate of HIV infection between males and females.

He adds most females who have HIV are from the ages of 20-25 while males are from 25-35.

The minister mentioned that HIV cases are seen and referred from every medical subdivision around the country.

To address this, the Ministry has seven HIV screenings made available and is free of charge in every medical sub-division and they also continue to provide specialists and nurses in various HIV clinical services.

Dr Waqainabete adds that they have allocated more than $350, 000 annually for the prevention of HIV/AIDs.