Fiji Raises HIV Alarm, Declares National Emergency Over Rising Cases

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after a sharp increase in infections left an estimated one in 60 adults living with the virus.

The Pacific island nation has recorded a rapid rise in HIV cases in recent years, prompting the government to move beyond its existing outbreak response and adopt a broader, coordinated approach.

According to UNAIDS, an estimated 9,100 people were living with HIV in Fiji in 2025. However, only 39 per cent of those affected were aware of their status, while just 22 per cent were receiving antiretroviral treatment.

UNAIDS said new HIV infections increased 12-fold between 2010 and 2025, making Fiji one of the countries experiencing the sharpest recent increases in HIV infections globally.

Fiji recorded 2,016 new HIV diagnoses in 2025, with the number of new cases reported to be 16 times higher than the figure recorded in 2019.

Government figures indicate that the estimated prevalence among adults has risen from about one in 167 five years ago to one in 60 today.

The situation is also affecting pregnant women. Health authorities said HIV prevalence among women attending antenatal care had reached about two per cent, equivalent to roughly one in 50 pregnant women. In 2025, 59 babies were born with HIV, while 18 died before reaching their first birthday.

Health officials have identified both sexual transmission and injecting drug use among the major routes associated with the recent increase. UNAIDS said more than half of cases with a known transmission route were linked to sexual contact, while more than 42 per cent were associated with injecting drug use.

Health Minister Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu formally announced the national emergency, saying the scale of the epidemic required a stronger response involving government agencies, communities and international partners.

The government plans to expand access to free HIV testing, prevention services and treatment. It also intends to strengthen access to PrEP, a medicine used to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV, and introduce needle and syringe services for people who inject drugs.

The government has also established a five-member Cabinet subcommittee to address barriers affecting the national response.

Officials say increased testing has contributed to the discovery of more HIV cases. However, the government acknowledges that the figures also reveal significant gaps in prevention, treatment and continued care.

UNAIDS has welcomed Fiji’s emergency declaration and said it will support the country’s efforts to strengthen its HIV response.

Officials Urge People to Avoid Stigma

Fijian authorities are also calling for greater public understanding and support for people living with HIV.

The government says its response should focus on getting people tested, connecting those who test positive to treatment and ensuring they remain in care, rather than creating fear or discrimination.

The emergency declaration comes as Fiji seeks to expand cooperation between health authorities, communities, faith-based organisations and international partners.

UNAIDS has described the development as a reminder that HIV remains a major public health issue and that countries need systems capable of responding quickly when infections begin to rise.

Source: Times Live