Latest news with #Fijians
Scoop
4 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
‘HIV Should Not Be A Death Sentence In Fiji' – Call For Testing Amid Outbreak
Article – RNZ There were 490 new HIV cases in Fiji from October – December last year. Fiji's Minister for Health & Medical Services has revealed the latest HIV numbers in the country to a development partner roundtable on the country's response. There were 490 new HIV cases from October – December last year, bringing the 2024 total to 1583. 'Included in this number are 32 newborns diagnosed with HIV acquired through mother-to-child transmission,' Dr Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu said. Fiji declared an outbreak of the disease in January. The Fiji Sun reported around 115 HIV-related deaths in the January-September 2024 period. Fiji's Central Division reported 1100 new cases in 2024, with 427 in the Western Division and 50 in the Northern Division. Of the newly recorded cases, less than half – 770 – have been successfully linked to care, of which 711 have been commenced on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Just over half were aged in their twenties, and 70 percent of cases were male. Dr Lalabalavu said the increase in HIV cases is also seeing an increase in tuberculosis and HIV co-infection, with 160 individuals in a year. He said the ministry strongly encourages individuals to get tested, know their status, and if it is positive, seek treatment. And if it is negative, to maintain that negative status. 'I will reiterate what I have said before to all Fijians – HIV should not be a death sentence in Fiji.' In the Western Pacific, the estimated number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) reached 1.9 million in 2020, up from 1.4 million in 2010. At the time, the World Health Organisation said over the previous two decades, HIV prevalence in the Western Pacific had remained low at 0.1 percent. However, the low prevalence in the general population masked high levels of HIV infection among key populations.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
'HIV Should Not Be A Death Sentence In Fiji' - Call For Testing Amid Outbreak
Fiji's Minister for Health & Medical Services has revealed the latest HIV numbers in the country to a development partner roundtable on the country's response. There were 490 new HIV cases from October - December last year, bringing the 2024 total to 1583. "Included in this number are 32 newborns diagnosed with HIV acquired through mother-to-child transmission," Dr Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu said. Fiji declared an outbreak of the disease in January. The Fiji Sun reported around 115 HIV-related deaths in the January-September 2024 period. Fiji's Central Division reported 1100 new cases in 2024, with 427 in the Western Division and 50 in the Northern Division. Of the newly recorded cases, less than half - 770 - have been successfully linked to care, of which 711 have been commenced on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Just over half were aged in their twenties, and 70 percent of cases were male. Dr Lalabalavu said the increase in HIV cases is also seeing an increase in tuberculosis and HIV co-infection, with 160 individuals in a year. He said the ministry strongly encourages individuals to get tested, know their status, and if it is positive, seek treatment. And if it is negative, to maintain that negative status. "I will reiterate what I have said before to all Fijians - HIV should not be a death sentence in Fiji." In the Western Pacific, the estimated number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) reached 1.9 million in 2020, up from 1.4 million in 2010. At the time, the World Health Organisation said over the previous two decades, HIV prevalence in the Western Pacific had remained low at 0.1 percent. However, the low prevalence in the general population masked high levels of HIV infection among key populations.
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Fiji: Urgent Public Warning: Bitcoin ATM Job Scam Targeting Fijians
Fijians Advised To Ignore Fraudulent Job Offers Circulating Via WhatsApp The Anti – Scam Taskforce (Taskforce) is urgently warning members of the public, particularly iPhone users, to remain vigilant against a new and deceitful scam being circulated through Apple's iMessage platform. The message, purportedly from 'Seek HR Management', falsely claims to offer highly suspicious remote assistant positions with unrealistic earnings of FJD $200 to $1,500 per day for just 15 minutes of work, along with claims about Bitcoin ATM installations in Suva and Lautoka. It is a deliberate attempt to lure unsuspecting consumers into fraudulent schemes under the guise of job recruitment. The scam message reads: 'Hello everyone, I'm the HR manager at Seek. We are installing Bitcoin ATMs in cities like Suva and Lautoka, and we are currently hiring 20 remote assistants. This job requires about 15 minutes of work each day, with a salary ranging from 200 to 1500 FJD per day. If you'd like to learn more about the job details, please add me on WhatsApp: 642102811577. ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications and the Chair of the Taskforce, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, expressed grave concern over the rise of digital scam operations targeting everyday Fijians. 'This is not just a consumer issue—it is a national issue. We cannot allow criminal actors to exploit digital platforms to deceive our citizens,' said Hon. Kamikamica. 'These criminals are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate, but their goal remains the same, to defraud hardworking Fijians. I urge all citizens to be extremely vigilant with unsolicited job offers, particularly those requiring personal financial information or upfront payments. Always verify any opportunity through official channels before responding, and we also urge all Fijians to report such messages to the relevant authorities immediately. It is through vigilance and collaboration that we will protect our communities.' On behalf of the Taskforce, the Council is urging all consumers to exercise extreme caution, refrain from engaging with the message, and under no circumstances respond or add the sender on WhatsApp. 'This is a textbook scam designed to exploit the curiosity and financial aspirations of our people,' said Council CEO Seema Shandil. 'The promise of easy money for minimal work is not just unrealistic—it's bait. Once hooked, consumers may be manipulated into sharing personal information, sending money, or unknowingly participating in illegal activity. We implore all Fijians to remain cautious, educate their families about these threats, and report any suspicious communications immediately.' The Anti-Scam Taskforce members are working closely to monitor such threats and coordinate timely responses. Consumers are reminded that legitimate job offers will never ask for contact via unofficial channels such as WhatsApp messages or offer unrealistic wages for little to no work. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Scams thrive in silence — speaking up protects not just you, but others around you. If you have received this message or believe you may have shared information with the scammer, contact the Consumer Council of Fiji immediately via toll-free number 155 or email complaints@
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Fiji: Urgent Public Warning: Bitcoin ATM Job Scam Targeting Fijians
Press Release – Consumer Council of Fiji Fijians Advised To Ignore Fraudulent Job Offers Circulating Via WhatsApp The Anti – Scam Taskforce (Taskforce) is urgently warning members of the public, particularly iPhone users, to remain vigilant against a new and deceitful scam being circulated through Apple's iMessage platform. The message, purportedly from 'Seek HR Management', falsely claims to offer highly suspicious remote assistant positions with unrealistic earnings of FJD $200 to $1,500 per day for just 15 minutes of work, along with claims about Bitcoin ATM installations in Suva and Lautoka. It is a deliberate attempt to lure unsuspecting consumers into fraudulent schemes under the guise of job recruitment. The scam message reads: 'Hello everyone, I'm the HR manager at Seek. We are installing Bitcoin ATMs in cities like Suva and Lautoka, and we are currently hiring 20 remote assistants. This job requires about 15 minutes of work each day, with a salary ranging from 200 to 1500 FJD per day. If you'd like to learn more about the job details, please add me on WhatsApp: 642102811577. ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications and the Chair of the Taskforce, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, expressed grave concern over the rise of digital scam operations targeting everyday Fijians. 'This is not just a consumer issue—it is a national issue. We cannot allow criminal actors to exploit digital platforms to deceive our citizens,' said Hon. Kamikamica. 'These criminals are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate, but their goal remains the same, to defraud hardworking Fijians. I urge all citizens to be extremely vigilant with unsolicited job offers, particularly those requiring personal financial information or upfront payments. Always verify any opportunity through official channels before responding, and we also urge all Fijians to report such messages to the relevant authorities immediately. It is through vigilance and collaboration that we will protect our communities.' On behalf of the Taskforce, the Council is urging all consumers to exercise extreme caution, refrain from engaging with the message, and under no circumstances respond or add the sender on WhatsApp. 'This is a textbook scam designed to exploit the curiosity and financial aspirations of our people,' said Council CEO Seema Shandil. 'The promise of easy money for minimal work is not just unrealistic—it's bait. Once hooked, consumers may be manipulated into sharing personal information, sending money, or unknowingly participating in illegal activity. We implore all Fijians to remain cautious, educate their families about these threats, and report any suspicious communications immediately.' The Anti-Scam Taskforce members are working closely to monitor such threats and coordinate timely responses. Consumers are reminded that legitimate job offers will never ask for contact via unofficial channels such as WhatsApp messages or offer unrealistic wages for little to no work. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Scams thrive in silence — speaking up protects not just you, but others around you. If you have received this message or believe you may have shared information with the scammer, contact the Consumer Council of Fiji immediately via toll-free number 155 or email complaints@
Scoop
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Fiji: Urgent Public Warning: Bitcoin ATM Job Scam Targeting Fijians
The Anti – Scam Taskforce (Taskforce) is urgently warning members of the public, particularly iPhone users, to remain vigilant against a new and deceitful scam being circulated through Apple's iMessage platform. The message, purportedly from "Seek HR Management', falsely claims to offer highly suspicious remote assistant positions with unrealistic earnings of FJD $200 to $1,500 per day for just 15 minutes of work, along with claims about Bitcoin ATM installations in Suva and Lautoka. It is a deliberate attempt to lure unsuspecting consumers into fraudulent schemes under the guise of job recruitment. The scam message reads: 'Hello everyone, I'm the HR manager at Seek. We are installing Bitcoin ATMs in cities like Suva and Lautoka, and we are currently hiring 20 remote assistants. This job requires about 15 minutes of work each day, with a salary ranging from 200 to 1500 FJD per day. If you'd like to learn more about the job details, please add me on WhatsApp: 642102811577. ' Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications and the Chair of the Taskforce, Hon. Manoa Kamikamica, expressed grave concern over the rise of digital scam operations targeting everyday Fijians. 'This is not just a consumer issue—it is a national issue. We cannot allow criminal actors to exploit digital platforms to deceive our citizens,' said Hon. Kamikamica. 'These criminals are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate, but their goal remains the same, to defraud hardworking Fijians. I urge all citizens to be extremely vigilant with unsolicited job offers, particularly those requiring personal financial information or upfront payments. Always verify any opportunity through official channels before responding, and we also urge all Fijians to report such messages to the relevant authorities immediately. It is through vigilance and collaboration that we will protect our communities.' On behalf of the Taskforce, the Council is urging all consumers to exercise extreme caution, refrain from engaging with the message, and under no circumstances respond or add the sender on WhatsApp. 'This is a textbook scam designed to exploit the curiosity and financial aspirations of our people,' said Council CEO Seema Shandil. 'The promise of easy money for minimal work is not just unrealistic—it's bait. Once hooked, consumers may be manipulated into sharing personal information, sending money, or unknowingly participating in illegal activity. We implore all Fijians to remain cautious, educate their families about these threats, and report any suspicious communications immediately.' The Anti-Scam Taskforce members are working closely to monitor such threats and coordinate timely responses. Consumers are reminded that legitimate job offers will never ask for contact via unofficial channels such as WhatsApp messages or offer unrealistic wages for little to no work. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Scams thrive in silence — speaking up protects not just you, but others around you. If you have received this message or believe you may have shared information with the scammer, contact the Consumer Council of Fiji immediately via toll-free number 155 or email complaints@
