# Fiji declares national HIV emergency

> The Pacific nation faces one of the world's sharpest HIV surges, driven by methamphetamine use and inadequate health infrastructure.
- Title: Fiji declares national HIV emergency · the Guardian | Shortify
- Summary: The Pacific nation faces one of the world's sharpest HIV surges, driven by methamphetamine use and inadequate health infrastructure. Fiji's HIV crisis has…
- Keywords: fiji, hiv, national emergency, methamphetamine, pacific islands, drug use, public health, unaids, epidemic, antiretroviral treatment, needle exchange, news
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/17/fiji-declares-national-hiv-emergency-infections-surge-health
- Published: 2026-09-17T01:43:49+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: fiji, hiv, national emergency, methamphetamine, pacific islands, drug use, public health, unaids, epidemic, antiretroviral treatment, needle exchange, news
## Fiji declares HIV emergency
Health minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu formally declared a national health emergency on September 17, saying an outbreak-level response is no longer sufficient to address what he called an epidemic.

> This decision recognises the seriousness of the epidemic and the urgent coordinated response our country now needs.
## Infections have exploded
One in 60 adults in Fiji now has HIV, up from one in 167 just five years ago. In 2025 alone, the country recorded 2,060 new diagnoses.

> Five years ago, the estimate was one in 167. In 2025, we recorded 2,060 new HIV diagnoses.
## Sharpest global increase
New HIV infections in Fiji spiked 12-fold between 2010 and 2025, making it one of the world's fastest-growing epidemics despite having less than one million people.
## Methamphetamine fuels spread
Fiji's role as a drug-running hub combined with escalating local methamphetamine use has driven rapid HIV transmission through unsafe injecting and lack of clean needles.
## Treatment gap is massive
Of an estimated 9,100 people living with HIV in Fiji in 2025, only 39 percent knew their status and just 22 percent were accessing antiretroviral treatment.
## Needle program planned
UNAIDS welcomed Fiji's plans to introduce a needle and syringe programme, with legislative amendments expected to go before parliament alongside efforts to expand prevention and testing.

> HIV epidemics can change quickly, and countries need health and community systems that are ready to respond urgently.
## Key takeaway

Fiji's HIV crisis has exploded from 1 in 167 adults five years ago to 1 in 60 today, requiring urgent coordinated action across drug use, testing, and treatment.