Suva, Mar 10: Fiji is witnessing the world’s fastest-growing HIV epidemic, with more than 1,200 people diagnosed with the infection during the first six months of 2025, according to recent findings highlighted in a report on the crisis.
The rapid rise in cases in the Pacific island nation has been linked to increasing methamphetamine use, unsafe injecting practices and limited access to clean needles, health experts and United Nations officials have said.
Fiji’s geographic location has also made it a transit hub for drug trafficking routes in the Pacific, which has contributed to the growing local drug trade and heightened risks of HIV transmission through shared needles.
Health officials say the spread of the virus is further aggravated by low public awareness, social stigma and insufficient access to testing and treatment services.
Experts warn that the crisis is also affecting families and children, as the epidemic expands beyond traditional high-risk groups.Social stigma surrounding HIV continues to discourage many people from seeking medical help or getting tested, delaying diagnosis and treatment and increasing the likelihood of further transmission.
Limited healthcare outreach and gaps in harm-reduction programmes, including access to sterile injecting equipment, have also made it difficult to control the spread of the virus.
Health advocates have called for stronger public health campaigns, improved access to HIV testing and treatment, and expanded harm-reduction programmes to tackle the outbreak.
They also emphasised the need to address drug abuse and reduce stigma so that affected individuals can seek help without fear of discrimination.
Authorities and international health agencies are monitoring the situation closely as Fiji works to strengthen its response to the growing HIV crisis.
