HIV/aids testing and treatment in the Pacific needs work

Transcript

Pacific health advocates say despite their relative success in dealing with the global HIV/aids epidemic, it's not time to rest on their laurels.

During World Aids Day, the United Nations called for zero new HIV Cases, zero discrimination and zero related deaths by 2030.

As Koro Vaka'uta reports, the Pacific still needs a lot of work to reach that goal.

The Suva-based UNAIDS Pacific Coordinator Tim Rwabuhemba says there are relatively low rates of the disease in the Pacific. Mr Rwabuhemba says the success should be celebrated, attributing it to three main factors.  

TIM RWABUHEMBA: There was a lot of involvement of Civil Society that played a key role.  That was a big factor in even putting a dent in stigma and discrimination.  The other one was also intensified education advocacy and thirdly in terms of the leadership provided.  For example in Fiji we have the president who has played a very important role.  

The Director of Health in Tonga, Dr Siale Akauola, says his ministry has been successful in keeping the number of HIV/AIDS cases in Tonga at 19 since 2012. But Dr Akauola says they need to remain vigilant.

SIALE AKAUOLA: We have to continue on the advocacy.  Although we have to celebrate and give credit to the activities that have been done so far, the susceptibility of the public is not reduced.  We are still seeing a high level of STIs, (Sexually Transmitted Infections), and teenage pregnancy so we have to protect people who are behaving in susceptible ways.  We can't rest on our laurels.

Fiji has had 35 new HIV/AIDS cases over the past year and there is still a high prevalence in Papua New Guinea's sex industry with close to one in five workers carrying the disease for example. Mr Rwabuhemba says this shows there can still be improvements.

TIM RWABUHEMBA: Carrying out basic services such as testing and treatment.  That is something that needs to be really worked on across the board for the entire Pacific.  Ensuring the services that the people need are accessible.  For example the treatment or coverage rates are still very low.  Very low levels of testing for HIV for example in pregnant women.

The chairman of Papua New Guinea's National AIDS Council agrees that there are issues around testing and treatment. Dr Banare Bun said in a statement to local media that a high percentage of those who test positive for HIV are not accessing treatment. His written statement says this is largely due to high rates of discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV and AIDS, rates of which remain high.

BANARE BUN: This is the reality for certain key populations or most-at-risk-populations for HIV and people living with HIV who are still being denied their rights to access to services because of ignorance, prejudice, stigmatisation and discrimination by the service providers.

A recent study among HIV-positive people in PNG's Chimbu province found that 60 percent had been denied health services; 71 percent had been physically assaulted; 85 percent verbally assaulted or harrassed; and two thirds excluded from family gatherings because of their HIV status.