Daijiworld Media Network - Suva

Suva, Sep 17: Fiji has declared HIV a national crisis after new diagnoses rose by 27% last year, raising concerns that infections once concentrated among people who inject drugs are spreading more widely across the Pacific island nation.

The Fijian government said in a statement that 2,016 people were diagnosed with HIV in 2025 and estimated that one in every 60 adults in the country was living with the virus.

The government also reported that 59 babies were born with HIV last year, while 18 died before reaching their first birthday.

Authorities said increased testing had helped identify more infections and enabled people to begin treatment earlier. Fiji now plans to expand access to free, voluntary and confidential HIV testing, preventive medicines, treatment and harm-reduction services for people who inject drugs.

Fiji, which has a population of around 900,000, is experiencing one of the world's sharpest increases in new HIV infections, according to UNAIDS. The agency estimates that around 9,100 Fijians were living with HIV in 2025, but only 39% knew their HIV status and 22% were receiving antiretroviral treatment.

“Fiji has recognized 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.”

Among cases where the mode of transmission was known, more than half were linked to sexual transmission, while more than 42% were associated with injecting drug use, according to UNAIDS.

The agency welcomed the government's plans to introduce a needle-and-syringe programme and expand access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medication that can reduce the risk of contracting HIV.

The Fijian government has also established a five-minister Cabinet subcommittee to address barriers to the country's HIV response. Authorities said discrimination against people living with HIV is illegal and that HIV-related services are available nationwide.

The government has said the national response will focus on expanding testing, prevention and treatment while ensuring confidentiality and access to healthcare for people living with HIV.

Fiji's estimate of one in 60 adults living with HIV remains lower than the prevalence in some parts of Africa, where nearly one in 35 adults is living with HIV, according to the World Health Organization.