Fiji declares emergency over AIDS

Fiji has declared a national emergency due to the outbreak of HIV and AIDS, with a sharp increase in cases over recent years. Estimates indicate that one in every 60 adults is infected with the virus, a significant rise compared to five years ago when the rate was one in every 167. New infections have surged by 12 times between 2010 and 2025, with around 2,060 new cases projected for 2025, and one in every 50 pregnant women infected with the virus. This situation is compounded by increasing methamphetamine use, the spread of unsafe injection practices, limited access to clean needles, low health awareness, and social stigma, all of which worsen the crisis. More than half of the infections occur through sexual contact, with 42% linked to intravenous drug use, and there is a lack of awareness and healthcare oversight among those living with the virus—only 39% know they are infected, and just 22% are receiving antiviral treatment. The emergency declaration aims to coordinate an urgent response, with plans to enhance prevention efforts, increase testing, provide sterile needles and syringes, and amend related legislation.

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