SUVA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Fiji recorded 124 new cases of Human Immune-Deficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS) from January until October this year.
Fiji's Minister for Health Ifereimi Waqainabete said on Tuesday they have identified that Fiji has two major issues pertaining to health, which are non-communicable diseases and communicable diseases.
Waqainabete said one-third of Fiji's population are youths. He took the opportunity to remind youths to take responsibility for their lives.
"Practice safe sex as the health facilities and staff stand ready to support you in your journey for a healthy adulthood," he said.
Waqainabete said while the Health Ministry is addressing the issues of Leptospirosis, Typhoid, Dengue and Diarrhoea, they recognize and acknowledge that HIV is a behavioural disease, but it is preventable as treatment is available for all Fijians free of charge.
HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system. The immune system defends the body against infections or diseases. HIV breaks down the immune system so that your body is not able to fight of disease or infection properly. Once a person is infected with HIV, he or she is infected for life; there is no cure for HIV.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) occurs when HIV has largely destroyed the immune system of an infected person over a period of time.
According to the Ministry of Health, in Fiji, incidences of HIV have increased over the last 25 years from 0.7 to 7 per 100,000 population. This could be due to better diagnosis and reporting of cases, but may also reflect a true increase in the number of cases.
Fiji has a population of around 900,000 people. Enditem
