STORY
Photographs courtesy of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Pacific Response Fund Committee, with the support of the Pacific Islands HIV and STI Response Fund.The Response Fund supports people living with HIV in the Pacific through organisations such as Fiji Network Plus (FJN+).
Age Group 0-9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ Unknown Total No. 11 14 232 137 41 13 2 30 GENDER
Women 232
Ethnic Total Group No. Total No.
Men 243 iTaukei 388
Indo Fijian 57
Unknown 7 Others
Unknown (Incomplete Form)
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Source : Fiji Network Plus
and then my wife was indescribable. I felt so beat down. I didn’t know what to do. After my wife’s death in 2006 I began to take treatment for this virus. I am on treatment now and I have lived now for 14 years with this virus. This treatment has kept me going; I found a new lease in life. I met Lora and fell in love. Despite the fact that I was living with HIV for ten years, I never told anyone about it but through Lora’s acceptance, I decided to make it public. Even though I’ve told her my HIV status, she refused to see me as a man with HIV. Instead, she saw the man that she loved. Her love and acceptance was life-changing. I no longer saw myself in an unfavorable light and didn’t give a second thought to the hurtful remarks that ignorant people made about me. I have moved past my HIV status and I am a happier man now, despite what our relatives think about us. They have their own views about us but we have other plans which they could not comprehend. Today, we also have a three year old son named Liofa Mailoqi and both my wife and my son are HIV-free. My wife’s acceptance and support has enabled me to reach to greater heights as a person living with HIV. www.mailife.com.fj
Luke Nayasa with his wife (right) and his two children outside his home in Labasa n
For treatment, individuals can go to the Hub Centres which are located Suva, Lautoka and Labasa. It is best that they spend some time with the Doctor who will guide them on all clinical aspects of the treatment and the importance of adherence. For someone who has been tested, it is important that they discuss or ask the doctor anything they want to know their new health status. The doctors will and should explain all medical issues and probably some social issues that one might want to clarify. At FJN+, we have people living with HIV (or HIV positive) and those who are negative working here and anyone who has been diagnosed with HIV is welcome to come and seek information in regards to the virus. The important
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thing is to know that this is no longer a deadly virus as treatment is available to address the virus while prolonging peoples’ lives and ensure a quality one. The Fiji Network Plus is an advocacy organisation of and for people living with HIV. We do community education programmes, we do a little bit of media through radio and to some extent TV to get people to understand HIV and hope to dispel myths that perpetuate stigma and discrimination. We open five days a week (Monday – Friday) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the office is situated within the Old Government Pharmacy complex (next to Bayly Clinic) on Rodwell Road here in Suva. People can contact us on phone 3310 958 DECEMBER 2013
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