GOVERNMENT has declared HIV a national emergency, along with a warning that the epidemic has reached a critical level, with current estimates showing one in every 60 adults is living with HIV.
Health and Medical Services Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu made the declaration yesterday after Cabinet approved the move on September 9.
He said the previous outbreak-level response, introduced in January 2025, was no longer enough to contain the growing crisis.
“An outbreak-level response is no longer sufficient,” Dr Lalabalavu said.
The warning is particularly stark among pregnant women, with HIV prevalence among those attending antenatal care reaching about 2 per cent – or one in every 50 women.
While increased testing has identified more people living with HIV, Government says the figures also expose major gaps in prevention, treatment and continued care.
Dr Lalabalavu said the Health Ministry could not tackle the crisis alone and announced a Cabinet subcommittee involving five key ministers.
Government will also work with the vanua, faith-based organisations and affected communities, while plans are underway for a parliamentary standing committee on HIV.
HIV taskforce chair Dr Jason Mitchell said a shortage of health workers was hampering efforts to expand treatment and care.
Dr Lalabalavu said the priority now was clear –to turn the commitment into results.
