HER boldness, bravery and positive single-minded attitude is admirable.
Jokapeci Tuberi Cati, 31, was the first person in the country to go public about her HIV status. That was in 2003.
She believes in giving a voice and standing up for HIV positive people who she says deserve to be treated equally as others.
"Humanising HIV is important to me and I want to do a lot for those who are infected," she says.
"People who are HIV positive are also human beings and need support, love and care like others do.
"We need friendly family members and friends and not rude and ridiculing remarks. I believe HIV positive people are part of the solution rather than the problem. We all need to participate together in the fight against HIV/AIDS so we can reverse the trend."
Jokapeci works hard day and night to better the lives of those who are infected with the disease. With this belief and fighting through many barriers, she established Fiji Network for people Living with HIV/AIDS in 2004.
While other organisations focus on the prevention of HIV/AIDS, FJN+ which is a non-political, non-religious and non-racial organisation aims to promote and improve the overall quality of the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS.
It has 37 members and about 100 volunteers to carry out its programs, awareness and advocacy work throughout Fiji.
FJN+ has also successfully established itself regionally and internationally. Starting up was obviously not easy start but Jokapeci was determined.
"I was optimistic about changing the lives of many with my story and those like me. When I went public, it was the first time for many to see a HIV positive person."
Standing up to speak at a church congregation was the first step for Jokapeci and she never looked back.
Her team now reaches out to about 42,000 people in Fiji annually.
Finding out the fact that she was HIV positive was not easy to handle but she fought her way through.
She contracted HIV from her late husband and is remarried to a person who is also HIV positive.
"I cried a lot and was in a mess when I found out that I was HIV positive. I could not handle it. The fear of rejection and death was in my head and it was so traumatic," said Jokapeci who had no knowledge of HIV back then. But then I went through counselling and my biggest strength was my family who stood by me with their support and my faith in God who as the one I shared everything with.
"It is because of him I am here carrying on this work."
Jokapeci has not received any form of treatment since she found out about the infection 11 years ago.
But she believes in advocating about the need for treatment as she leads FJN+ members to the brighter side of life everyday.
