No village has been spared by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), says Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu.
He made this revelation during Cakaudrove Provincial Council and urged traditional leaders along with district representatives to know what HIV was and does.
During his address at Yaroi Village Hall in Savusavu yesterday, he said there had been an increase recorded of HIV cases among iTaukei nationwide.
Fiji now has approximately 7000 HIV cases, a worrying trend he described as “a health disaster in the making” if not urgently addressed.
“I urge you to encourage your people at village and district level to go for testing as facilities are available and when medical team comes for a visit to your village to raise awareness, make use of it,” Dr Lalabalavu said.
“HIV knows no age or race and the best we can do is to work together to address it to save the future generation. HIV is no longer a topic to be kept hidden and people must learn how to protect themselves.”
He urged them to talk about HIV to their families, village and district level, so they could be educated, help raise more awareness and be prepared.
