‘HIV is Not An iTaukei Disease’

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not an iTaukei disease, says Temo Sasau.

The lone advocate against HIV in the Northern Division said people need to stop tagging iTaukei with HIV.

He said HIV had been identified in iTaukei communities because they were the ones assessed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

“Most of the ministry’s awareness programmes are conducted in villages, iTaukei rural communities and that’s when people come out for testing or reveal themselves,” Mr Sasau said.

“People need to stop looking at the iTaukei with a perception that they are the ones always carrying HIV.”

His comments followed comments from different communities after the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu declared an outbreak of HIV cases in the country early this year.

He said between January and September, last year, Fiji recorded 1093 HIV cases.

Among the reported cases, 784 were males, and 990 or 90.6 per cent were of iTaukei, followed by Indo-Fijians 8.2 per cent (90 cases) and other ethnicities 1.2 per cent (13 cases).

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) advocate Temo Sasau in Labasa on June 11, 2025. Photo: Shratika Naidu

Maintaining confidentiality

Dr Lalabalavu said in the past, traditional leaders had asked him to release the name of the people living with HIV and he said no.

“Recently, they had asked me to give them the photos and their reasons wasn’t that clear and I told them we can’t do that,” he said.

“This is against human rights, law and constitution.”

Meanwhile, Mr Sasau said if names and photos were released, people would stop coming forward to be tested for HIV and it would be a deterrent.

“When I told these leaders that they are looking at the person infront of them living with HIV like me, their reaction and behaviour changed to negativity,” he said.

“This is a clear example of why release of names and photos are not helpful.”

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