Fiji Declares National HIV Emergency Amid Surge in Cases
The South Pacific island nation is escalating testing and treatment efforts as an estimated one in 60 adults now live with the virus.
Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency, responding to a significant surge in infections that has led to an estimated one in 60 adults in the country living with the virus. The government announced an intensification of testing and treatment programs to combat the rising number of new HIV cases.
Data from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and Aids (UNAIDS) indicates that new infections in Fiji have increased 12-fold over the past 15 years. In 2025, approximately 9,000 people were living with HIV in Fiji, a nation with a population of less than one million. According to UNAIDS, only 39% of these individuals were aware of their HIV status, and just 22% were receiving antiretroviral treatment.
Fiji's Health Minister Antonio Lalabalavu stated in a video message that HIV is now considered a national crisis. "No more business as usual," he said, emphasizing the government's commitment to treating the situation with the urgency it demands. He noted that more people in Fiji are living with HIV than at any previous time.
The government attributes the increase in detected cases to expanded testing efforts that are reaching a greater number of people. To address the crisis, Fiji plans to offer more free testing services, distribute clean needles to drug users, and provide free treatment to all individuals who test positive for HIV. The health minister stressed that these initiatives are focused on protecting individuals without judgment, shame, or stigma.