18 December, 2025, 9:04 pm Central - 24°C Rain

23 children diagnosed with HIV in 2024 - Doctor Thaggard

23 children diagnosed with HIV in 2024 - Doctor Thaggard

By Iliana Biutu
25/05/2025

23 cases of HIV in children have been recorded by the Ministry of Health from January to September 2024.

While speaking at the Fiji Medical Association Central Mini-Conference at the Holiday Inn in Suva, Dr. Miriama Thaggard, a paediatrician at the Labasa Hospital, revealed that 18 of those children were born to HIV-positive mothers.

Dr Thaggard says these children will require long-term medication for the rest of their lives.

She says this is becoming a growing trend.

Dr Thaggard says the burden of disease highlights the need to strengthen HIV prevention efforts.

She adds the responsibility does not lie solely with healthcare providers, rather the community must also play an active role in working together to stop the spread of HIV.

FEATURE NEWS
Traffickers exploit victims in hotels, homes, and massage parlours in Fiji - US Report
Traffickers exploit victims in commercial sex establishments, hotels, private homes, and massage parlours in Fiji, and sometimes utilize websites and ...
4 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Young teacher mourns grandmothers' death day before graduation
26-year-old Shivendra Shiamal Sharma experienced a deeply bittersweet moment after losing his grandmother just a day before graduating as a primary ...
2 hours ago

Seruiratu questions merger of Sugar Ministry with Agriculture
Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu has raised serious concerns regarding the Prime Minister's decision for the Minister for ...
3 hours ago

Cheap seed oils are not good for our health - O'Neill
With over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji caused by cardiovascular disease based on the 2011 report, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill is ...
3 hours ago

ACP Vusonilawe calls for community action as alcohol-fuelled incidents rise
With alcohol-fuelled incidents on a rise, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe is calling on community members to intervene ...
4 hours ago

Flagstaff and Rewa St drug cases to be called on New Year's Eve
The cases for Flagstaff drug accused Joshua Ravula and Yin Qing Qing and Rewa Street drug accused Yu Yang Feng, Minghui Dai, Zhou Lan, Ginna Choi, ...
5 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Fiji needs to act on human trafficking indicators associated with Grace Road Group
The United States has expressed serious concern about human trafficking indicators linked to the Grace Road Group in Fiji, as highlighted in the 2025 ...
2 hours ago

Human trafficking allegations and issues relating to Grace Road Group
Human trafficking allegations and concerns linked to the Grace Road Group/+ARTICLE-311061+ARTICLE/PM says Govt cannot interfere into any human ...
12 hours ago

Sonia Shanaaz says silent treatment hurts as she waits for assistance for her daughter with cerebral palsy
Sonia Shanaaz, the mother of 10-year-old Aarna who was born with cerebral palsy, says silent treatment hurts after she reached out to the ...
6 days ago

TOP