Fiji's HIV crisis
June 6 2025
Ahhh so THAT’s why Ratu Bajaru and co have resigned. Hard to sell Fiji as a “the place where happiness finds you” when facts are bleak.
THIS IS NOT A NATURAL DISASTER. WHO is accountable?
“Last year, Fiji recorded 415 new HIV cases – a sharp rise from 245 in 2022. This surge is particularly worrying among adolescents, with new diagnoses jumping from just six in 2022 to more than 100 in the first nine months of 2024.
This near “45-fold increase” reflects a troubling shift in transmission patterns, with many young people acquiring HIV through injectable drug use – a clear failure of harm reduction efforts.
Even more heartbreaking is the rise in babies born HIV positive. […] a stark reminder of the gaps in prevention and care that need urgent addressing.
Globally, countries like Botswana have reversed their HIV epidemics. […] The Philippines, confronting adolescent infection spikes, has embraced peer education, online outreach, and youth-friendly services.
Fiji, however, lags behind.”
Well, sounds like it’s leading a ‘way’