23 children diagnosed with HIV in 2024 - Doctor Thaggard

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.