People living with HIV are being urged not to stop taking their medication following false claims circulating on social media that HIV can be cured through herbal medicine.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services says a video circulating online claims that a person was cured of HIV through herbal medicine and that a health worker had confirmed the cure.
The Ministry says there is no herbal, traditional, food or spiritual remedy anywhere in the world that has been proven to cure HIV.
It is reminding people living with HIV that antiretroviral therapy, or ART, works by stopping the virus from growing in the body and protecting the immune system.
ART is available free of charge at government health facilities for all Fijians.
The Ministry is also stressing that an undetectable viral load does not mean a person has been cured of HIV.
It says when a person's viral load is undetectable, they cannot pass HIV to their sexual partner, a principle known as Undetectable equals Untransmittable, or U=U.
However, the Ministry says the virus remains in the body and can return if treatment is stopped.
It says stopping ART can result in the person becoming unwell, damage to the immune system, transmission of HIV to others and drug resistance.
People using herbal or traditional remedies are being advised to continue taking their ART and inform their health worker so they can check whether the remedy is safe.
The Ministry says it has no record of any Ministry of Health facility or clinician confirming an HIV cure and has reminded health workers to provide advice in line with the National HIV Care and Antiretroviral Therapy Guidelines.
It is also urging the public not to share the video or shame, abuse or attempt to identify the person featured in it.
The Ministry says anyone who has stopped taking their HIV medication can return to care and will be supported without judgement.
Fiji Network Plus, the national network of people living with HIV, is supporting the Ministry's message and is urging people not to stop ART because of claims that herbs can cure HIV.
People with questions about HIV testing, treatment or the claim can contact the SRH and HIV Unit on 3316101.
