Pacific countries to re-examine HIV response

The inaugural meeting of a new body aiming to help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS on small Pacific islands is being held in Fiji.

Opinions are being sought from government officials, experts and non-governmental organisations throughout the Pacific region, Radio New Zealand reported.

And the chairman of the Commission on AIDS in the Pacific has emphasised the limited resources and health care on many of the islands in the region, hoping that the meeting will help government's better respond to the disease.

Dr Langi Kavaliku said: "We hope that our report will be able to point some way forward in terms of prevention, cure and treatment and the need for political leaders and civil society to work together."

"And at the same time look at the possible potential impact of any increase of HIV/Aids or the lack of prevention of HIV/Aids in economic terms, social terms, security and governance issues," he added.

The findings and recommendations of the two-day meeting finishing tomorrow (November 27th) will be summarised in a report published by the United Nation's AIDS agency, UN AIDS, the website reported.

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