Twenty AIDS-related deaths were recorded between January and June of this year, which included three children – two girls and a boy — 12 men and five women.
In response to queries, Ministry of Health permanent secretary Dr James Fong said all 20 were diagnosed this year.
And 99 per cent had not started HIV treatment. Last year, there were 46 AIDS-related deaths.
“This is unfortunate and highlights that not only do we need to screen more, but we also need to make sure that those who screen positive are well supported to be followed up and treated,” Dr Fong said.
A three-month-old is the youngest person to have died of AIDS after contracting it from the mother.
Excluding children who got infected with HIV through their parents, an 11-year-old is the youngest person infected with HIV through sexual transmission.
Dr Fong said one of the first diagnosed cases from 1989 was still living and on HIV treatment.
“This person is the only one who is HIV positive in their family. This person is married and is a grandparent.
“Until June 2023, we have diagnosed a total of 1806 cases and we have about 50 per cent of them in care.”
The statistics recorded 151 new HIV cases had been recorded from January to June, comprising 143 adults and eight children.
Dr Fong said the ministry was also verifying data from July to September. About 96 cases are from the Central/ Eastern division, 46 from the West, and nine from the North.
In total, there are 101 men, 46 women, and four transgender individuals. Out of the 151 new cases, 121 are predominantly iTaukei, 27 are Fijians of Indian descent and three are of other ethnic groups.
Six cases are of children aged between zero and four, two cases for the 10-14 age group, and seven for the 15–19-year group.
Those between 20 and 24 years comprise 26 cases, 36 recorded for the 25 to 29 years group while 21 cases each were recorded for those between 30-34 and 35- 39 years.
There are 16 cases for the 40-44 age group, 10 cases for the 45-49 category, and six cases for individuals aged 50 and above.
