50 percent of the 443 HIV cases identified from January to September last year have been linked to needle sharing while 54 percent of the 1,093 new HIV cases recorded are now under the Ministry of Health’s monitoring program to track their health status.
Ema Rakaususu, a representative from the Sexual Reproductive Health Clinic highlighted this during the VITIFM Virikawakawa Show.
She says the growing risk associated with drug use, especially methamphetamine has contributed to the rising number of HIV cases due to its destructive impact on individuals' lives.
Rakaususu clarified that HIV is not only transmitted through sexual activity, but also increasingly through drug use, group sex, and other high-risk behaviour.
She also highlighted many individuals who came in for testing admitted to having sexual relationships with more than three partners, and when those partners were later tested, they were also found to be HIV-positive.
Dr. Kesaia Tuidraki from Medical Services Pacific says other blood-borne viruses can be transmitted through needle sharing.
Dr. Tuidraki adds many individuals diagnosed with HIV were also found to be infected with Hepatitis.
Hepatitis is a group of viruses that cause liver inflammation and can lead to serious health complications.
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