Fiji to fast-track National HIV Outbreak Response Plan with completion targeted for end-2025
Fiji’s government is accelerating its response to the national HIV outbreak, confirming that a comprehensive National HIV Outbreak Response Plan will be finalized by the end of 2025. Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu said the plan will cover prevention, expanded testing, treatment, and intensified community awareness, with a strong emphasis on engaging communities and civil society groups as well as development partners.
The plan aims to strengthen awareness campaigns, widen access to HIV testing and counselling, and improve treatment services. Minister Lalabalavu underscored that community involvement will be crucial, noting that information and services must reach those most in need. He stressed the urgency of action as infection numbers continue to rise and the outbreak increasingly affects younger people.
A national outbreak declaration was made in January, and a dedicated taskforce is now active to steer the response. Funding supports include a $10 million government allocation, complemented by international assistance of $5.7 million from Australia and $5.2 million from New Zealand.
Context and prior measures
Last year saw Fiji record its highest number of HIV diagnoses to date, with 1,583 new cases in 2024. This represented a 281 percent rise from 2023’s 415 cases and was more than five times the 131 cases reported in 2018. Of the 2024 total, the overwhelming majority were adults, with a portion of cases diagnosed in children, including some through mother-to-child transmission.
Earlier reporting highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting significant concentration in the Central Division and a large share of infections among people aged 20 to 29. In response to the outbreak, the ministry launched a 90-day HIV Outbreak Response Plan within the broader HIV Surge Strategy for 2024–2027, with international partners contributing to testing, prevention, and care efforts.
Other related updates have emphasized a coordinated, multi-sector approach to testing, treatment access, and stigma reduction, while continuing to monitor and adapt strategies as the epidemic evolves.
What this means going forward
– The new plan seeks to consolidate and expand on existing efforts, ensuring faster delivery of testing, linkage to care, and antiretroviral treatment, especially for young adults and those in high-risk communities.
– International and local partners will remain integral, supporting funding, technical expertise, and community outreach to sustain momentum.
– Ongoing refinement of data collection and surveillance will help target resources where they are most needed and track progress toward reducing new infections and improving outcomes for those living with HIV.
Editor’s notes and reader-focused context
– If you’re seeking resources or testing information, contact your local health clinic or the Ministry of Health for guidance on how to access HIV testing and counselling.
– Community groups and NGOs play a vital role in outreach, stigma reduction, and ensuring services reach vulnerable populations. Readers are encouraged to engage with local organizations to support prevention and care efforts.
– With the outbreak response now backed by government and international funding, there is cautious optimism that expanding testing, improving treatment access, and strengthening community support can slow transmission and improve health outcomes in Fiji.
Summary
Fiji is moving decisively to implement a comprehensive, government-led HIV Outbreak Response Plan by the end of 2025, backed by substantial government and international funding. Building on the 2024 surge in cases and the ongoing HIV Surge Strategy, the plan focuses on prevention, expanded testing, treatment, and robust community engagement to address the outbreak and protect public health across the nation.
Leave a comment