32 reported cases of HIV AIDS have been recorded for this year.
This brings the total number of reported cases since 1989 to 578.
While speaking during World AIDS Day today, President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said that the statistics continue to remind us of the need to have continuous support to respond to the HIV and AIDS issue.
The President said the number of new HIV cases continue to rise in the country.
He said over seventy percent of the 578 cases is reported to be through heterosexual transmission and the epidemic is evidently affecting our young people with over 50 percent falling within the age group of 20 to 29 years.
Ratu Epeli said he has visited 160 schools and has personally interacted with over 60,000 students, teachers and parents to talk about HIV AIDS.
He added that he places a high priority on his school visits as Fiji is dealing with very active and inquisitive minds.
