Fiji Declares HIV A Nationwide Disaster As Diagnoses Surge 27%

WELLINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Fiji has declared HIV a nationwide disaster after new diagnoses climbed 27% final 12 months, intensifying concern that an epidemic as soon as concentrated amongst individuals who inject medicine is spreading extra extensively by the Pacific island nation.

The authorities mentioned in an announcement posted on Facebook that 2,016 individuals have been recognized with HIV in 2025 and estimated that one in 60 adults was residing with the illness.

Fifty-nine infants have been born with HIV final 12 months and 18 died earlier than their first birthday, it additionally mentioned.

Authorities mentioned expanded testing had helped uncover infections, enabling earlier therapy. Fiji now plans to widen entry to free, voluntary and confidential testing, prevention medicines, in addition to harm-reduction companies for injecting drug customers and therapy.

Fiji, a rustic of round 900,000 individuals, is experiencing one of many international stage’s sharpest rises in new infections, in line with UNAIDS. It estimates that 9,100 Fijians have been residing with HIV final 12 months and that solely 39% knew their standing and that 22% have been receiving antiretroviral therapy.

“Fiji has acknowledged the urgency of the second and is stepping up its response,” UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima mentioned. “It can also be a stark reminder to the international stage that AIDS isn’t over.”

Among circumstances with a identified transmission route, greater than half have been linked to sexual transmission and over 42% to injecting drug use, UNAIDS mentioned. The company welcomed authorities plans for a needle-and-syringe programme and expanded entry to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medication used to decrease the chance of contracting HIV.

The authorities has arrange a five-minister Cabinet subcommittee to take away boundaries to motion. It mentioned discrimination in opposition to individuals residing with HIV is prohibited and companies can be found nationwide.

Fiji’s estimate of 1 in 60 adults residing with HIV stays under elements of Africa, the place almost 1 in 35 adults live with HIV, in line with the World Health Organization.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)