A representative of the Fiji Network of People Living with HIV, FJN+ says apart from abstinence there should also be a lot of alternatives such as using condoms that should be talked about in communities to prevent HIV.
Speaking at the Speaker of Parliament’s Debate at Nahigatoka Village Community Hall, Programme Manager for FJN+ Jokapeci Cati says a lot of their members abstained all their youth lives and they got infected in their marriage.
Cati who lives with HIV/AIDS says people should also be educated on other options because everyone has different preferences and come from different backgrounds.
Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau says when someone in the family has HIV/AIDS everyone should rally together and embrace them.
Thirteen children were recorded to be living with HIV/AIDS in the country last year.
According to 2018 statistics by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, 468 people are living with HIV of which 77% are on treatment.
AIDS related deaths on record are 117.
As of the end of 2018, the Ministry of Health says 930 cases of HIV/AIDS have been reported since the first diagnosis in 1989.
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