The number of positive cases of HIV AIDS in Fiji is increasing every year and if tests are not made compulsory to pregnant mothers, or to their partners, than the trend in Fiji will be as bad as that in Papua New Guinea.
These are sentiments echoed by Head of Department of the Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV, Dr Litia Narube.
Dr Narube said that in most cases she has come across, it is very difficult when a lady is tested positive, for their partners to also give in to be tested as most tend to avoid.
Dr Narube added that to add to the difficulty in trying to adhere to the standards set out by the World Health Organisation during delivery, the Health Ministry is always running out of supply due to the huge number of births at their hospitals.
Once a mother is detected for HIV, they start giving drugs at 28 weeks of 7 months into pregnancy, until 1 week after birth.
However, since the numbers of affected mothers has increased, the World Health Organization has agreed in 2006 for STD clinics to start as early as 12 weeks or 3 months into pregnancy.
Story by: Selina Navuso
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HIV/AIDS rise a concern
