He is a teenager living on the streets in a town in Fiji and was recently confirmed as one of the new HIV cases.

The 19-year-old was referred to Empower Pacific by a doctor at one of the divisional hospitals in the country for counselling.

Like him, doctors have also referred some new HIV cases to the NGO, which focuses on providing counselling and social support services.

Many of the new cases referred by doctors for counselling are youths living on the streets.

They contracted the virus mostly by injecting crystal methamphetamine or ice/white as it is commonly known, through what is called “bluetoothing”.

Doctors made the referrals under a long-term partnership the Ministry of Health & Medical Services has with the NGO.

Statistics released by the ministry on August 16 reveal there were 552 new HIV cases from January to June this year.

The Central Division recorded 380 new cases, Western 151, Northern 19 and two in the Eastern.

Sexual transmission is known to be the primary transmitting means for HIV in Fiji but as seen in 2024, 85 of the 552 cases were transmitted through injectable drug use, which is 15 per cent of the total cases till June.

There are 50 new persons between 15 and 19 years who are living with HIV, 137 who are between 25 and 29, and 128 between 25 and 29 years.

The Ministry says the latest HIV cases are predominantly seen in individuals less than 39 years of age though it does not exempt individuals more than 40 years old.

While some people may turn up at hospitals after experiencing symptoms of HIV, they would be reluctant to get blood tests done.

Empower Pacific’s Fiji Facility Support Program manager, Keli Koroi said doctors have been referring individuals for either pre-test counselling or counselling.

“We explain during the pre-test counselling why doctors need to do his/her blood tests and if they consent, then it’s done,” he said.

“If the result comes back positive, then doctors tell the patients about it and the patients are then referred to us for counselling.”

In 2022, doctors referred 37 confirmed cases to Empower Pacific for counselling – 25 CWMH, nine from Lautoka, two Kadavu and one from Labasa.

There were 27 referrals from CWMH in 2023, three each from Labasa and Nadi, two from Lautoka and one from Nausori hospitals.

From January 1 to July 31 this year, the number of new case referrals from CWM Hospital for counselling increased to 47.

There were 10 from Nausori and one each from Labasa and Lautoka hospitals.

Though the number of referrals is not many, assisting one person in providing pre-test counselling and counselling support has a major impact on the individual, family, and assists in the advocacy and prevention on the further spread of the virus.

Mr Koroi said the new cases of persons living with HIV who have been referred to Empower Pacific for counselling are between 19 and 30 years old.

“Most of those referred to us for counselling now are those who have contracted HIV through drug use,” he said.

“When we attend to them, they state that they contracted HIV through sexual intercourse but they don’t realise that it’s through injecting meth and sharing the same needle.”

Mr Koroi said most of the new referrals by doctors were young boys and men living on the streets.

“They only go to the hospital when they lose weight, start vomiting and have other symptoms of HIV.

“If they didn’t go to the hospital, then they would not have known that they are living with HIV.”

Mr Koroi said the youngest person among the new cases of people living with HIV that he provided support to earlier this year was a 19-year-old male.

“He is living on the streets and he contracted HIV by injecting meth.

“The last time I saw him was two or three months ago when he was hospitalised and there is no means of follow up with him as he has no fixed address or phone contact,” said Mr Koroi.

The ministry said from January to June this year, 13 deaths from HIV-related illnesses were recorded while it was 82 last year.

“We encourage individuals nationwide to get themselves tested and most importantly, to know their test results.

“If they are positive, they should seek treatment early rather than late.

“If negative, continue to practice safe sexual behaviour and not engage in activities such as bluetoothing and chemsex to prevent transmission related to injectable drug use,” said the ministry.

Bluetoothing is where drug users withdraw blood after injecting the drug and then inject it into a second person and probably more people.

Chemsex is engaging in sexual activity while under the influence of stimulant drugs, with crystal methamphetamine being one of them.

Avinesh Gopal is Empower Pacific’s media and communications officer based in Lautoka, Fiji. He is a former senior journalist.