13 Jan 2011

Cooks Governmet to work to raise awareness following HIV case

7:51 pm on 13 January 2011

The Cook Islands cabinet has met with the country's HIV committee and is satisfied its first case of HIV has been properly dealt with.

The government had faced condemnation after health ministry officials sought legal advice about whether they could publicly identify the first person to test HIV positive in the country.

Edwin Pitman, the CEO of the Prime Minister's office, says Cabinet asked the committee to take on the concerns about the safety and protection of the Cook Islands people.

"There's no intention to name or expose anyone, which is in accordance with normal practice, as advised by the AIDS committee, so Cabinet did take on that advice, and accepted the recommendations."

Edwin Pitman says the government will work to raise awareness and be vigorous in efforts of prevention and voluntary testing.