FIJI’S HIV epidemic is increasingly spreading into the general population after initially being concentrated among key populations, Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV Unit Harm Reduction lead Dr Sailosi Soqo says.
Speaking at the 43rd Fiji Head Teachers Association Annual Conference in Nadi yesterday, Dr Soqo said Fiji was experiencing one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world.
He said the country recorded 121 new HIV cases in 2021, compared with 2016 cases in 2025.
Dr Soqo said estimates indicated there could be about 9000 people living with HIV in Fiji, suggesting thousands of cases remained undiagnosed.
“So, there are 7000 cases out there that haven’t even come to us yet,” he said.
Fiji recorded its first HIV case in 1989 and took about three decades to reach 1000 diagnosed cases.
Dr Soqo said HIV was initially concentrated among key populations, including men who have sex with men, sex workers, people who inject drugs and transgender people.
However, he said the pattern had changed, with increasing numbers now being recorded among the wider population.
He called on teachers to help educate young people about HIV, drugs and prevention.
