Fiji Declares National HIV Emergency Amid Rising Meth Use
Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency as infections have risen sharply, driven by increased methamphetamine use and needle sharing, prompting expanded testing and treatment measures.
Fiji announced a national HIV emergency after data showed that about one in 60 adults in the country is living with the virus. The United Nations programme UNAIDS reported that HIV infections have increased twelvefold over the past 15 years, with more than 2,000 new cases recorded in 2025, a sixteenfold rise from 2019. UNAIDS estimates that roughly 9,000 people were living with HIV in Fiji in 2025, and the infection rate among pregnant women has risen to one in 50.
Health officials attribute the surge primarily to increased injection of methamphetamine and the sharing of needles among drug users. The government plans to broaden free testing, distribute clean needles, and provide antiretroviral treatment, noting that only 39% of those infected know their status and 22% receive care.
"Fiji’s HIV epidemic is not just a health issue — it is a development and human rights challenge that threatens lives, communities and progress," said Munkhtuya Altangerel, a United Nations Development Programme representative.
"We must act decisively and urgently to scale up harm reduction, expand access to HIV testing and treatment, and ensure that no one is left behind," the UN official added.
UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima described Fiji’s situation as one of the fastest increases in new HIV infections worldwide, warning that the crisis could spread to other South Pacific nations if stigma-reducing actions are not taken promptly.