Concern about HIV cases in Fiji children after four deaths
A 3d rendered illustration of HIV.
Photo:
123rf
Fiji's Ministry of Health is raising concern about a growing number of HIV cases in children, after four young patients have died this year.
Consultant Pediatrician Dr. Miriama Thaggard from Labasa Hospital said in one case, with a child quickly deteriorating, they were thinking maybe it's HIV.
So they tested the baby, and the baby was positive.
FBC
reported that as of 27 May, there have been 19 new pediatric HIV cases reported this year.
The health ministry is urging early testing.
On 23 January, Fiji
declared an outbreak of HIV
.
Dr Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu announced 1093 new HIV cases from the period of January to September 2024.
In early December, the Fiji Medical Association called on the government to declare an HIV outbreak "as a matter of priority".
As of mid-December, 19 under-fives were diagnosed with HIV in Fiji. Before the declaration, the UN Development Programme delivered 3000 antiretroviral drugs to Fiji to support the HIV response.
The country's health ministry said in January that
funding for HIV programmes in Fiji has dropped
in recent years.
The
Fiji Times
reported the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Dr Jemesa Tudravu, saying financial resources for HIV programs have decreased from FJ$5 million (US$2.2m) in 2011 to FJ$1.2million (US$529,492) by 2016.
"The government funding support reduced in 2012, and in 2013 it has slowly built up again in 2016 and 2018," he said.
"However, the support from international funding has markedly reduced."
A report released in mid-2024 showed that in 2023, 6.7 million people living with HIV were residing in Asia and the Pacific, making it the world's largest epidemic after eastern and southern Africa.
The US president Donald Trump's plan to slash foreign aid has derailed
efforts to contain growing HIV epidemics in the Asia Pacific
and caused some programs to be suspended.
Cameron Hill, a senior researcher with the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University, said in March the Australian government has seen that the projects that are likely to be cut, that it is most concerned about, are TB and HIV programmes in PNG and Fiji.
"So, what it has done in this budget is it has taken some of the money it was going to spend on global programmes, global health, global education programmes, and shifted that money across to help buttress health programmes, particularly in PNG, Fiji."
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