Fiji declared a national HIV emergency after 18 babies died from the virus in 2025, with new infections rising 27% year-on-year and 39% of those living with HIV unaware of their status, according to government and UNAIDS data.
Fiji’s HIV crisis reached a grim milestone in 2025, with 18 infants under one year old dying from the virus, according to Colonial Memorial Hospital, the country’s largest facility. The national emergency declaration followed a 27% surge in new HIV diagnoses compared to 2024, with 2,016 cases reported—a 12-fold increase since 2010. UNAIDS estimates 9,100 Fijians are living with HIV, but only 39% know their status, while 22% of those infected receive antiretroviral treatment, leaving many vulnerable to mother-to-child transmission.
WHO continues to support Fiji as it declares HIV
The emergency declaration, made on 15 September, builds on a response initiated two years prior. In 2024, Fiji endorsed its HIV Surge Strategy 2024–2027 and launched a national HIV Outbreak Response Plan, with support from UNAIDS and the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Representative to the South Pacific, Dr. Mark Jacobs, emphasized that testing, early diagnosis, access to treatment and appropriate care, needle syringe programs, empowered communities, and addressing stigma and discrimination
are critical to controlling the epidemic. He noted that modern treatments mean people living with HIV can live normal healthy lives and not pass the infection on.
A recent mobile clinic initiative in Suva, led by Dr. Kesaia Tuidraki of Medical Services Pacific, tested 97 individuals, mostly teenagers, outside a McDonald’s, with one in six testing positive for HIV. Children are suffering, children are dying, and if that doesn’t move you I don’t know what will,
Tuidraki said. The crisis is exacerbated by drug use, with 42% of 2025’s new HIV cases linked to shared needles, according to Eamonn Murphy, UNAIDS regional director. Children as young as 9 are injecting drugs, a social worker reported, citing community accounts. A 38-year-old injecting drug user, Rochelle, described distributing syringes to young people, despite legal risks: Giving out syringes is technically considered aiding and abetting drug use,
she said. Advocates urge the government to relax laws to distribute clean needles, a policy expected to pass within two weeks.
Fiji's HIV crisis killed 18 babies last year, as
Berenadeta, a mother who tested positive during pregnancy, shared her story to highlight the risks. I never missed my tablet, she said, referring to her antiretroviral medication, which suppressed the virus and protected her baby. Her child tested negative, but 59 infants born to HIV-positive mothers at Colonial Memorial Hospital in 2025 were infected, 18 of whom died. Dr. Jason Mitchell, Fiji’s HIV epidemic lead, warned that unless we find solutions quickly, this will continue to get worse. He estimated the epidemic could take five to 10 years to control, with cases likely to rise before stabilizing.
Stigma remains a major barrier. Activists like Mark Shaheel Lal emphasized the need for testing and education: People are scared. There’s cyberbullying, blame on minorities, and a lack of testing. Only 1 in 60 adults in Fiji is aware of their HIV status, according to the Guardian, with many avoiding clinics due to stigma.
Children are dying’: Fiji hopes declaring an HIV emergency
However, critics argue progress is too slow. You let your guard down once, and boom, it happens, said a drug user interviewed by ABC News. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services continues to lead efforts, including free HIV testing, prevention services, and harm reduction measures. WHO reiterated its commitment to working with the ministry and partners to intensify this work
amid the emergency.
As Fiji grapples with its HIV emergency, the coming months will test whether political will and community trust can turn the tide. The government’s planned needle distribution policy and expanded testing initiatives aim to curb transmission, but success depends on overcoming cultural resistance. Global examples show that with significant and sustained action it is possible to bring this emergency under control,
said Dr. Jacobs, urging continued collaboration and public awareness. Readers are advised to consult qualified professionals for personalized guidance, as the evidence highlights the urgency of timely intervention and systemic change.