Virus in every 50th pregnant woman – emergency in Fiji
Fiji's authorities have declared a state of emergency due to the rapid spread of HIV. One in 60 adults is infected, and the number of infected has increased 12-fold in 15 years. HIV is diagnosed in every 50th pregnant woman. The government is expanding testing and providing free clean needles to drug users.
Fiji's authorities have declared a state of emergency due to a severe health crisis caused by the rapid spread of HIV. According to the Ministry of Health, as stated by its head Ratu Antonio Lalabalavu, one in every 60 adults on the archipelago is infected. UNAIDS experts report a twelvefold increase in the number of infections over the past fifteen years. Of the approximately nine thousand infected, only about 39% know their diagnosis, and only a fifth of patients receive therapy. The situation among pregnant women is particularly alarming: HIV is diagnosed in every fiftieth expectant mother. The situation began to worsen in January 2025 after the official declaration of an outbreak, when the number of new infections tripled within a few months. With a population of less than one million, the annual tourist flow exceeds one million, creating additional strain. The government plans to expand testing programs and aid volumes, as well as provide free clean needles to drug users.