TONGA currently has only two known surviving HIV/AIDS cases.

In the last 25 years 17 cases of HIV/AIDS were detected and of these eight had died, seven returned to other countries, and two remained alive in Tonga, the Director of Health, Dr Siale 'Akau'ola said at the World Aids Day 2011 program in Nuku'alofa, on December 1.

He said the first case of HIV/AIDS in Tonga was diagnosed in 1987 and the 17 cases found in Tonga since then, had included eleven males and six females.

The World Aids Day whose theme for this year is Getting Down to Zero, meaning zero HIV infection, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related diseases was marked with a colourful and creative float parade on Taufa'ahau road organized by the Tonga Red Cross Society.

The program continued to Tu'imatamoana wharf with guest speakers and entertainment.

Good sign

Dr Siale 'Akau'ola said thate a good sign was that in the ten years from 1987-96 there were only seven cases and from 1997-2006 there were only seven cases also.

"From 2007 to now we have seen only three new cases."

He believed that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Tonga, "was at quite a steady state for the last 25 years. This is a very promising sign and there is no question that we should keep up the good work that everyone is doing in Tonga, so far.”

He believed the main reasons behind this success have been due to strong donor support, especially from the Global Fund to fight HIV and TB, and the Pacific Response Fund provided by the Governments of New Zealand and Australia and also other donors such as the WHO and UNAIDS.

In addition, there had been a strong partnership and collaboration among national organizations, such as the National Country Coordinating Mechanism, the Ministry of Education, Women's Affairs and Culture, the National Centre for Women and Children, Tonga Family Health Association, Civil Society, Tonga National Youth Congress and others.

"It is hoped that these collaborative efforts will be stronger than ever and continue to provide adequate protection to the people of Tonga from the epidemic of HIV, which is ravaging of our Pacific and Asian neighbours."

34 million with HIV

The Australian High Commissioner to Tonga HE Mr Thomas Roth in his keynote address said that the United Nations World Aids Day 2011 theme, Getting Down to Zero is a very important message that signifies the global efforts in response to this epidemic.

He said there are 34 million people living with HIV, and during 2010 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus, with 1.8 million AIDS related deaths in 2010.

He said these figures showed the immense problem at the global level. But it was very assuring that in Tonga there had been few cases, and whatever all the stakeholders did was right from the Tonga Red Cross to Civil Society, Ministry of Health and other partners.

He said that Australia would continue its assistance and joint collaboration with the Minister Health in HIV/AIDS, in tackling HIV/AIDS.

There is no time to be complacent and prevention is better than cure and definitely much cheaper. He commended the work of the Tonga Red Cross, government, Ministry of Health and other private stakeholders in their work in this area.

The Australian High Commissioner was invited to cut a cake in memory of people who lost their lives from HIV/AIDS.

During the program, entertainment was provided by the youth of the Tonga Red Cross.