MANDATORY testing for HIV/AIDS is against human rights and fuels stigma, says the UNAIDS Pacific Advisor Renata Ram.
Ms Ram made the comments during an interview with The Fiji Times online portal The Lens@177, saying UNAIDS did not condone mandatory testing because it was against human rights.
“People need to empower themselves, (and) take ownership of their own health.
“Even if you get a person tested, what are the chances that you will ensure that the person takes their medication every day? You can’t force people, and that will not control the epidemic.”
She said HIV/AIDS should not be seen as an infectious disease like COVID.
“We have to remember how HIV is spread.
“The risky behaviours are what we should be addressing, and reducing the infections or getting people to practise safe sex, to have these clean needles and syringes, should be the prerogative for any HIV program.
“Never compulsory testing.”
Ms Ram said because of stigma, people were hesitant to go to HIV clinics for testing as there were chances of them meeting people they knew or were related to, and this discouraged them from visiting the clinic.
“A lot of people feel like they do not want to be seen.”
