Fiji could soon have close to 9,000 people living with HIV, placing growing pressure on the country’s already stretched public health system, Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa warned in Parliament yesterday. Speaking during the debate on the President’s Address, Ravunawa described the figures as a wake-up call for a coordinated national response to a chronic health challenge that will demand lifelong care and sustained funding.
“Furthermore, Mr Speaker, Sir, HIV is a chronic disease that requires lifelong treatment. Individuals diagnosed with HIV will now have to take antiretroviral medication every single day for the rest of their lives to keep the viral load low,” Ravunawa told MPs. He stressed that maintaining a low viral load through consistent medication and clinical monitoring is critical both for the health of people living with HIV and to reduce onward transmission of the virus.
Ravunawa said government projections indicate the number of people living with HIV in Fiji could approach 9,000 in the near future. “Every one of these individuals will require continuous treatment, monitoring, and clinical support. This will induce further burden to our already stretched public health system,” he said, urging Parliament to consider the long-term implications of that trajectory.
The assistant minister warned that treatment and care costs could run into millions of dollars over coming decades. “Mr Speaker, Sir, the cost of this treatment will run into millions of dollars over the coming decades, which is why prevention today is not only a health investment, but also a financial investment in our nation’s future,” he said, drawing a direct connection between prevention efforts now and fiscal pressures later.
Ravunawa used his remarks to appeal for cross-sector unity, saying the HIV response should transcend politics and social divisions. “HIV is not a political issue. HIV does not ask which political party you support, which province you come from, or which religion you belong to — it affects everyone,” he told lawmakers, calling on the Government, Opposition, civil society, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders and communities to work together. He added: “When our nation faces a health crisis, unity is not optional; unity is necessary.”
The assistant minister’s warning is the latest development underscoring concerns about the capacity of Fiji’s health services to respond to long-term chronic conditions that require continuous treatment and monitoring. His comments place renewed emphasis on prevention, testing, and sustained funding for antiretroviral therapy and support services as policymakers consider both health and economic strategies to avert the larger projected burden.
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