Fiji declares national emergency as HIV infections surge amid methamphetamine rise

Fiji is confronting one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics worldwide, with new infections increasing twelvefold from 2010 to 2025. In reaction, the government has declared a national emergency, a step described by Health Minister Atonio Lalabalavu as essential for a swift, coordinated national response. The surge in HIV cases is linked to the expanding presence of methamphetamine, a highly addictive synthetic stimulant that began circulating during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This drug has penetrated even the most isolated islands of the 322-island archipelago, affecting individuals from all walks of life. Community spaces, traditionally central to village life, now hide the private health deterioration caused by the twin crises. Authorities face the dual challenge of addressing both the viral outbreak and the drug's infiltration across Fiji's population.