Fear of stigma keeps sex workers from HIV testing
STIGMA and discrimination against people living with HIV (PLHIV), sex workers and LGBTI communities is still a pressing issue, especially from healthcare workers in Fiji, says UNAIDS goodwill ambassador for HIV in the Pacific and Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
While speaking at the Fiji family training of trainers workshop and recognition of World AIDS Day in Suva yesterday, Ratu Epeli revealed that 60 per cent of female sex workers surveyed in Fiji reported avoiding HIV testing because of fear of stigma from healthcare providers.
He added more than 30 per cent of homosexuals and other men who had sex with men (MSM) also faced stigma.
“HIV testing among these key populations is low with 25 per cent female sex workers and 42 per cent MSM,” Ratu Epeli said.
He added the global HIV response was off track even before the COVID-19 pandemic but the collision of COVID-19 and HIV had set it back further.
He said while Fiji contributed 80 per cent of domestic funding towards HIV programming, there was a need to ensure that this was sufficient to implement effective services.
“Investments in the AIDS response in the past few decades have helped to strengthen health systems and have been supporting the COVID-19 response.”
He added more needed to be done to further strengthen Fiji’s health systems and protect the healthcare workers.