Based on the current situation, we will see more children living with HIV and many of these children will be attending school, and we cannot afford to have them treated badly because of their HIV status.
The Chairman for the National HIV Outbreak Cluster Response Taskforce, Dr Jason Mitchell highlighted this during fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan where he also stated that the collaboration of schools, families, churches, and workplaces is vital in the fight against HIV.
He says that more conversations need to happen everywhere, with everyone working together to control the increase in HIV cases and to fight the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.
Dr Mitchell is also hoping that the Ministry of Education will introduce comprehensive sexuality education in schools, where schools can play a part in creating environments where people feel welcomed, supported, and cared for.
Dr Mitchell says more iTaukei are testing positive for HIV during the tests done in the wider community and in the last three years there has been a 45-fold increase in adolescents, aged 10 to 19 years becoming infected with HIV mainly due to injectable drug use.
Doctor Mitchell also stated that the approach must be underpinned by compassion, love and understanding which is the values that Fijians hold dear to their hearts.
He says however, many times people approach this issue with unkindness and cruelty because of the judgement and discrimination surrounding those affected by HIV.
Dr Mitchell says they want to see communities surrounding and supporting people living with HIV, as well as those affected by it, because everyone has a role to play in the HIV response.
He also stressed that everything starts at home, and that each individual has an important role to play.
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