Fiji introduced a state of emergency due to the HIV outbreak

The government of Fiji has declared a state of emergency and a national crisis due to the HIV outbreak. In 2025, Fiji identified 2016 new HIV infections. The figure is 27% higher than a year earlier. During the same time, 117 people died from HIV, including 18 infants under one year old.

Fiji has committed $10 million to fight the spread of HIV. Free testing will be conducted throughout the country. The government has also promised to increase the availability of essential drugs and to launch a needle and syringe exchange program for drug addicts.

The population of Fiji is about 900,000. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that 9.1 thousand Fijians had HIV in 2025, but only 39% of them knew they were infected and only 22% received the necessary treatment.

According to UNAIDS data, one in 167 Fiji adults had HIV 5 years ago. Every 60th person has HIV now. Among pregnant women who were screened, the HIV prevalence rate reached 2%, that is, one in 50 expectant mothers is infected. Last year, 59 children were born with HIV. According to UNAIDS, Fijians are mostly infected through sexual contact (more than 50%), and 42% of cases are due to the use of dirty syringes to inject drugs.

Alena Miklashevskaya