SEVENTEEN new cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) recorded in the first six months of the year were from the North, according to the Ministry of Health.
Advocate and survivor Temo Sasau said the numbers were expected to increase in the coming months.
“If we promote testing, by December we will see a similar prevalence as Viti Levu,” he said.
Mr Sasau said injecting drugs was the primary method of HIV transmission in the North.
“With the injecting drug use, it’s like a different playing field that no one sort of expected,” he said, adding that some people were still being diagnosed late with the virus.
“There was no other option but for them to get the test.”
He said the Government must engage stakeholders and partners.
“There are people living with HIV that are public about their HIV status.
“We know some things that not even doctors and scientists know or experience.”
Mr Temo said the recent rise in figures could also be the result of the awareness of testing.
