Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after new figures showed that approximately one in 60 adults in the country is living with HIV. Five years ago, the estimated rate was about one in 167 adults.
Concerns about rising HIV diagnoses in Fiji have been mounting for several years, and the latest figures indicate the trend is continuing. In 2025, there was a 27 per cent increase in new HIV diagnoses. Health authorities also reported that 59 babies were born with HIV, including 18 who reportedly died before their first birthday.
The Pacific nation of fewer than one million people recorded 2,016 new HIV diagnoses in 2025, according to Health Minister Antonio Lalabalavu, who said “an outbreak-level response is no longer sufficient”.
“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.”
According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), of the estimated 9,100 Fijians living with HIV in 2025, only 39 per cent knew their HIV status and just 22 per cent were accessing antiretroviral treatment.
Health officials and HIV experts have attributed the increase in diagnoses to multiple factors, including injecting drug use, limited access to sterile needles and syringes, and people engaging in unprotected sex without access to preventative medication such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The government continues to expand HIV testing services, while health experts have advocated for stronger harm reduction initiatives. As part of its response, Fiji will introduce a needle and syringe programme.
Chair of Fiji’s National HIV Outbreak Response, Jason Mitchell, told ABC’s The World that the government was now acting decisively.
“We need to make needles and syringes widely available to the public, so anyone who is injecting has access to sterile equipment and can avoid sharing,” Mr Mitchell said.
“I think it shows real bravery and real leadership from our government to introduce this programme quickly and scale it up.”
Health authorities anticipate it may take up to five years for the programme to have a significant impact.
UNAIDS has welcomed the government’s decision to expand harm reduction measures.
“Fiji has recognised the urgency of the moment and is stepping up its response,” UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said.
“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.”
The national emergency declaration is intended to accelerate action across government and society. A Cabinet subcommittee has been established to address policy and implementation barriers and strengthen the country’s response.
Among cases where the mode of transmission was known, more than half were linked to sexual transmission and more than 42 per cent to injecting drug use. UNAIDS has welcomed plans for legislative changes to support the introduction of a needle and syringe programme.
“The national crisis declaration is a call for action, not fear. HIV is not transmitted through everyday contact, and people on effective treatment with an undetectable viral load do not sexually transmit HIV,” said Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
“Fiji still has an opportunity to change the course of this epidemic. Stronger cooperation across the Pacific and sustained international solidarity can reinforce the national effort and help accelerate action.”
