UNAIDS has revealed that at the end of 2022, 2000 people were living with HIV in Fiji and estimated that between 2010 and 2022, new infections increased by 260 percent.
In a statement, UNAIDS HIV Advisor in Fiji, Renata Ram said Fiji has the second fastest growing epidemic in the Asia Pacific region, after the Philippines.
Ram said at the end of 2022, only 51 percent of all people living with HIV in Fiji were aware of their status.
He highlighted that Fiji’s coverage of HIV treatment is among the lowest in the region, with only 28 percent of all people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy.
UNAIDS said in Parliament, the Minister of Health Dr Antonio Lalabalavu said there was around a 70 percent spike in newly reported HIV cases from 2022 to 2023.
They said UNAIDS continues to work with national partners to understand the HIV epidemic trends more clearly and respond accordingly.
Ram said rapid action is needed to strengthen the national HIV surveillance system and have a more accurate picture of the epidemic’s dynamics.
He said UNAID is supporting the Ministry of Health in finalizing its surge strategy and welcomes the added support from the Global Fund, Australia, and United Nations partners.
This statement comes after the Minister for Health briefed Parliament on Fiji’s HIV statistics while responding to the President’s Speech at the Opening of the 2024-2025 Session of Parliament.
