An estimated 59 babies were born with HIV in Fiji last year, up from 31 cases in 2024, while at least one baby died from HIV each month in 2025.
The alarming figures were revealed in Parliament yesterday by Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, who warned urgent action was needed to prevent the epidemic from worsening.
He said Government action must now match the urgency of the situation.
“I, therefore, propose a strengthened national approach built on three principles: speed, scale, and sustained commitment,” Dr Lalabalavu said.
He said despite some progress, the latest figures confirmed HIV was worsening and spreading beyond the initial outbreak.
“In 2025, Fiji recorded 2003 new diagnoses, up from 1583 in 2024, with the national rate diagnosis rising to 226 per 100,000, up from 13 per 100,000 in 2019 – a 17-fold increase.
“Men remain more affected, but the gap is narrowing, showing that infection is increasingly affecting women and families.
“This is also reflected in pregnancy surveillance: national antenatal HIV prevalence is now estimated at 3.1 per cent, and at CWM it has risen sharply to 3.7 per cent in 2025, rising from 0.34 per cent in 2023 to 1.82 per cent in 2024.”
Dr Lalabalavu said rising HIV cases in antenatal clinics showed the virus was no longer confined to one population group.
“When HIV is rising in antenatal clinics, it reflects that this is no longer an outbreak in one population group – it is increasingly present in the wider community.”
“I wish to emphasise that this must be a national, multi-party commitment.
“HIV does not recognise political lines.
“The country needs an apolitical, united stance that will hold through this year’s election and beyond.”
