Fiji Declares HIV a National Emergency as Cases Surge
By Daily Hibiscus News
Fiji has declared a national crisis amid an extraordinary rise in HIV cases, with health officials raising the alarm about an epidemic that has emerged alongside an increase in injectable drug use.
The country’s health and medical services minister, Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, said in a statement on social media that an outbreak-level response was no longer sufficient to address what he described an “epidemic”.
“Today I am formally declaring a national health emergency in Fiji,” he said. “This decision recognises the seriousness of the epidemic and the urgent coordinated response our country now needs.”
The health minister said the government estimates that one in every 60 adults in Fiji is now living with HIV.
“Five years ago, the estimate was one in 167. In 2025, we recorded 2,060 new HIV diagnoses,” he said, adding that one in 50 pregnant women has HIV.
The emergency declaration followed on from a cabinet decision on September 9 and would require a coordinated response, he added.
