Fiji Declares National HIV Emergency Amid Meth-Driven Surge

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after a sharp rise in infections linked to increased methamphetamine use. Health and Medical Services Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said the country now faces an “epidemic” that cannot be contained by the previous outbreak‑level response. Government estimates that one in 60 adults in Fiji are living with HIV, a dramatic jump from earlier figures. The surge follows a spike in meth use, which health officials say fuels new transmissions. In response, the government has mobilised additional resources, expanded testing and treatment programmes, and called for coordinated action across health, law‑enforcement and community sectors. The declaration signals a shift to a more comprehensive, sustained strategy to curb the epidemic and protect public health.