Fiji’s HIV Emergency Exposes Treatment, Prevention Gaps

By Hannah Yemisi

Fiji has declared a national emergency over a rapidly worsening HIV epidemic, prompting the government to expand testing, treatment and prevention services. The declaration follows a sharp increase in infections and growing pressure on the country’s health system.

DEVELOPMENT:

Fiji recorded 2,016 new HIV diagnoses in 2025, according to Health Minister, Antonio Lalabalavu, who said that the scale of the outbreak now requires a substantially stronger response.

“An outbreak-level response is no longer sufficient,” Lalabalavu said.

The government plans to introduce a syringe and needle programme, with legislative amendments expected in Parliament to enable its implementation. Lalabalavu also urged citizens to undergo HIV testing and challenged the stigma surrounding the disease.

“No one should be ashamed, threatened, or excluded because of their HIV status,” he said. “Stigma drives people away from the very services that can help them.”

Health experts and NGOs have linked the surge to drug use, unsafe sex, needle sharing and “bluetoothing”, a practice involving the sharing of blood through intravenous drug use.

DATA:

About one in 60 adults in Fiji is now living with HIV, compared with one in 167 five years ago.

UNAIDS estimates that about 9,100 Fijians were living with HIV in 2025, but only 39 percent knew their status and 22 percent were accessing antiretroviral treatment.

That treatment rate compares with a global average of 78 percent.

SIGNIFICANCE:

The figures reveal a gap not simply in disease prevention but in diagnosis, treatment access and public-health capacity.

Jason Mitchell, who leads Fiji’s national HIV response taskforce, said the country could require “upwards of five years for Fiji to get on top of the epidemic”.

“It’s a long-term programme, it’s not something like Covid that’s turned around in two years. HIV is very different,” he told ABC News.

Mitchell said the epidemic was placing additional pressure on an already strained health system.

“For a health system that’s already struggling, to have people who should really be well because there’s treatment available taking up beds in hospitals and sitting in outpatient… Our clinical services has really been under a lot of pressure,” he said.

NEXT MOVE:

Implementation of the needle and syringe programme, expanded testing, antiretroviral treatment coverage and progress in reducing stigma will be key indicators.

OUR LENS:

Fiji’s emergency declaration demonstrates how quickly an HIV epidemic can place pressure on both public-health infrastructure and community systems when prevention, diagnosis and treatment coverage fall behind infection rates.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, welcomed the declaration.

“It is also a stark reminder to the world that Aids is not over. HIV epidemics can change quickly, and countries need health and community systems that are ready to respond urgently,” she said.

The deeper issue is therefore health-system resilience. Fiji’s experience shows that controlling HIV requires sustained investment in prevention, early diagnosis, treatment access and community trust, rather than relying solely on emergency interventions once infections accelerate.

Hannah Yemisi is a reporter of note, reporting on education, business, economic and social developments with a focus on accuracy, context and public relevance.