We don’t need a vigilante-style approach to HIV and drugs – Dr Mitchell

We need a human approach and not a vigilante-style approach to the HIV and drug crises the nation is currently battling.

This was highlighted by the Head of the newly established HIV Sexual Reproductive Health Unit Dr Jason Mitchell who says Fiji has quickly progressed from a very low prevalence epidemic to one that is concentrated, and now it is heading towards a generalised epidemic.

Dr Mitchell says the ministry needs to step up on its response as they have other issues that need to be attended to such as the high rates of sexually transmitted infections within our population.

He says STI rates that are untreated means that it's easy for people to become infected with HIV, and as a result of HIV, TB numbers are increasing.

He adds this means that everyone in the country has a responsibility to be concerned about HIV, TB, and also STIs.

The Head of the new unit is calling for a better response to the drug crises the country is facing, as the rate of HIV is transmitting very fast because people in the country are injecting in groups.

Dr Mitchell says a criminal approach will not work because it will be difficult for people who use drugs and are infected with HIV to engage in the care they need.

Meanwhile, 1,583 cases of HIV were recorded between January and December last year, with 90.3 percent of the cases being iTaukei.

This is equivalent to 1,430 individuals.

8.4 percent of the cases were among Fijians of Indian descent, and 1.3 percent were from other ethnic groups.