Fiji declares state of emergency over HIV epidemic — RNZ World
Fiji’s Minister of Health, Atonio Lalabalavu, has officially declared a national state of emergency over HIV in the country. The decision was supported by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the Cabinet, RNZ World reports.
According to current government estimates, one in every 60 adult residents of Fiji is living with HIV. Five years ago, the figure was one person living with HIV per 1,667 adults. In 2024, the country recorded 2,060 new HIV diagnoses.
Rising number of cases
HIV prevalence among women receiving antenatal care has reached about 2%. This means that approximately one in 50 pregnant women has HIV.
According to the World Health Organization, Fiji’s HIV epidemic is the second fastest-growing in the Asia-Pacific region after Papua New Guinea. As of March, there were at least 9,000 people living with HIV in the country. Officials cited risky drug use as a factor in the rapid increase in cases.
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Government measures
The authorities plan to expand testing, treatment and access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP. The government also intends to accelerate the introduction of a formal needle and syringe programme and long-acting injectable prevention.
Lalabalavu stressed that treatment is a central part of the state’s response to the epidemic: it helps people with HIV maintain their health, while achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load prevents sexual transmission of the virus.
The implementation of the measures will be coordinated by Fiji’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Programme Management Unit together with local health services and community partners. Australia, New Zealand, the Global Fund, India, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and other partners are supporting the country’s response to the epidemic. The government has also proposed establishing a standing parliamentary committee on HIV and related issues.
