Call made for dedicated HIV doctor in the North

A man who has been living with HIV for the past 18 years is calling on the government to appoint a dedicated doctor to care for people living with HIV in the Northern Division.

While speaking at the Fijian Media Association’s Meet the Public and the Press session in Labasa, Temo Sasau highlighted that while his check-ups are done in Suva, it is not by choice but due to the unavailability of a specific HIV doctor in the North.

He says while the Hub Clinic in the Northern Division is doing great work, the increase in HIV cases needs urgent attention and specialised care.

Sasau says he is the only person in the North who is public about his HIV status and is requesting for a doctor who specifically looks after people living with HIV.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad acknowledged the request and assured Sasau that the matter would be looked into.

Professor Prasad further says for the first time, the government has formally recognised the rise in HIV cases and allocated $10 million to address the issue, while the New Zealand government has provided an additional $5.4 million.

In a related question, concerns were raised with Acting Commissioner of Police Aporosa Lutunauga on the issue of rising HIV rates being linked to injectable drug use and there being reports, photos and videos of people publicly injecting drugs in the main cities and towns.

ACP Lutunauga says they have responded to some of the calls that have come in from the urban areas.

He says the police now have special operations targeting those specific locations where such activities were previously reported and members of the community have seen people gathering and using needles.

He says they have identified these as hotspot areas, and are now actively patrolling them.

When questioned on what number people in the Northern Division can call, Lutunauga says they can contact the Crime Stoppers line on 919 or the Northern Division Command Centre on 9905722 if they see drug use happening publicly or they know of any drug related activities.