Fiji Declares National HIV Emergency Amid Sharp Rise in HIV Infections
Why in News?
- Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after recording a sharp, sustained rise in new HIV infections, with health authorities saying an “outbreak‑level” response is no longer enough.
- The declaration follows 2,016 new HIV diagnoses in 2025 (about 16 times the 2019 level) and an estimated 1 in 60 adults now living with HIV, up from about 1 in 167 five years ago.
Key Drivers of the HIV Crisis
- Methamphetamine and Injectable Drug Use: Fiji has become a primary maritime transit hub for drug trafficking organizations moving narcotics from the Americas to markets in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. This has caused highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine to flood the local Fijian market.
- Dangerous Needle Sharing ("Bluetoothing"): Over 42% of confirmed transmission routes with known data are linked to drug injections. The crisis is heavily exacerbated by "bluetoothing"—a practice where blood is drawn from a person who has just injected drugs and immediately injected into another person's vein to share the high at a lower cost.
- Sexual Transmission & Low Protection: More than half of the known cases are attributed to sexual transmission. This is driven by low condom use, multiple sexual partners, and untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which make contracting HIV easier.
- Stigma and Low Testing Awareness: Out of an estimated 9,100 people living with HIV in the country, only 39% know their status, and just 22% are currently accessing life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART).
Impact on the Population and Healthcare
- Mother-to-Child Transmission: The crisis has heavily impacted newborns. In 2025, 59 babies acquired HIV from their mothers, and two in every 100 pregnant women in Fiji now carry the virus. Tragically, 18 of those babies died before their first birthday.
- Rising Death Toll: Fiji reported 117 HIV-related deaths in 2025, a stark increase from the 25 deaths recorded in 2021.
- Co-infections: Health officials have warned that the virus is weakening immunity across communities, leading to an accompanying spike in Tuberculosis (TB) cases.
The Fijian Government's Response
- Whole-of-Government Mobilisation: The emergency declaration elevates the response beyond the Ministry of Health, involving the President’s office, the Parliament, and a newly formed five-minister cabinet subcommittee to legally bypass administrative barriers.
- Harm Reduction Programs: To combat needle sharing, the government plans to introduce public programs providing sterile syringes and needles.
- Expanding Medical Care: The country is rapidly scaling up free, confidential HIV testing, widening access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and expanding antiretroviral treatment distribution nationwide.
