THE Ministry of Health is calling for more open and widespread discussion about HIV, urging people at all levels, including national leaders, to speak out to raise awareness, dispel myths and reduce stigma surrounding the disease.
Permanent secretary for Health Dr Aalisha Sahukhan said open conversations were critical to strengthening Fiji’s response to the epidemic, improving public understanding of HIV transmission and encouraging people to seek accurate information about prevention, testing and treatment.
“I think the more people that are talking about this issue, the more awareness that goes out, and it is very much a bipartisan issue,” she said.
“The more people we have talking about it, especially at the highest levels, I think that’s really important.”
Dr Sahukhan said HIV was not a new disease, with more than four decades of international experience and evidence available to guide effective responses.
She said the ministry’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Unit had developed programmes based on established evidence and was working to roll them out across communities.
Her role, she said, was to work alongside the team to identify challenges and remove barriers to implementation.
Dr Sahukhan said the ministry remained available to provide factual information and help ensure the public received accurate advice about HIV.
