By Benson Daniel
Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency following a sharp increase in infections, prompting the government to expand testing, prevention and treatment services across the Pacific island nation.
Health and Medical Services Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said the scale of the outbreak had moved beyond what could be addressed through a conventional response, requiring coordinated action across government and communities.
Government estimates indicate that about one in every 60 adults in Fiji is now living with HIV, compared with one in 167 five years ago. The country recorded more than 2,000 new HIV diagnoses in 2025, while UNAIDS said new infections increased about 12-fold between 2010 and 2025.
Health authorities have linked a significant proportion of the increase to sexual transmission and injecting drug use. More than half of cases with a known transmission route were associated with sexual contact, while more than 42 per cent were linked to injecting drug use.
The crisis has been compounded by growing methamphetamine use, unsafe injecting practices, limited access to clean needles, inadequate testing and social stigma surrounding HIV.
Fiji, a country of fewer than one million people, is also facing concerns over mother-to-child transmission. The government estimates that one in 50 pregnant women is living with HIV, highlighting the need to strengthen testing and treatment during pregnancy.
UNAIDS has welcomed the emergency declaration and called for rapid action to expand prevention, testing and treatment. The agency also supports plans by the Fijian government to introduce needle and syringe programmes as part of efforts to reduce transmission among people who inject drugs.
Under the expanded response, authorities plan to increase access to free and confidential HIV testing, preventive medicines such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, harm-reduction services and antiretroviral treatment.
The government is also seeking to address barriers that prevent people from getting tested or receiving treatment after diagnosis. Current estimates show that only about 39 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, while only 22 per cent are receiving antiretroviral treatment.
Health officials have stressed that people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives when they have access to effective treatment, while urging communities to reduce discrimination and stigma.
The emergency declaration underscores the importance of strengthening Fiji’s health system as the country confronts a rapidly changing HIV epidemic. Authorities are expected to work with international partners and community organisations to expand prevention programmes and improve access to healthcare.
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