Fiji declares HIV a national crisis, 1 in 60 adults carry it

Fiji has declared HIV a national health emergency, pledging comprehensive government involvement to tackle the surge in HIV cases and safeguard communities nationwide. The Pacific island nation's government announced the decision earlier this week, reporting a staggering 2,016 new HIV diagnoses in 2025, an astonishing 16 times the number recorded in 2019.

This indicates the virus spreading beyond high-risk groups like drug users and sex workers into the broader population. With an estimated one in every 60 adults now living with HIV, compared to one in 167 five years ago, the government has taken decisive action.

Among pregnant women, two in every 100 carry the virus, while 59 babies were born HIV-positive in 2025, with 18 succumbing before their first birthday. However, expanded testing is aiding health services in reaching more individuals and identifying cases that might have otherwise gone undetected. Health Minister Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu and four other Cabinet ministers will form a sub-committee to remove barriers to rapid action.

The administration in the capital and port city of Suva has also expanded free HIV testing, prevention services, and treatment, including rapid testing, preventive medication for high-risk individuals, harm-reduction measures for drug users, and free care for diagnosed sufferers. The response focuses on preserving lives, enhancing access to health services, and diminishing stigma.

Fiji is receiving assistance from international partners such as Australia, New Zealand, India, the Global Fund, and the United Nations.

UNAIDS in Geneva welcomed Fiji's intensified response, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The organization noted that HIV epidemics can evolve rapidly, and countries must have prepared health and community systems to respond swiftly. According to UNAIDS, among Fijian cases with a known transmission mode, more than half are linked to sexual transmission, and over 42% to injecting drug use.

New infections in Fiji have increased 12-fold between 2010 and 2025, with only 39% of the estimated 9,100 people living with the virus knowing their status and 22% receiving antiretroviral treatment. Despite medical advancements and increased treatment efficacy, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima highlighted that there remains time to reverse the tide.

The national crisis declaration is a call to action, not fear, as HIV is not transmitted through casual contact, and people on effective treatment with an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV sexually.