India has dispatched a consignment of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to Fiji to bolster the country’s public health response to its rapidly growing HIV epidemic.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the shipment reflects New Delhi’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Global South in addressing health and humanitarian challenges.
“A consignment of Anti-Retro Viral (ARV) drugs has been dispatched to Fiji to support its health program. India remains committed to supporting Fiji in its public health response and humanitarian needs,” Jaiswal said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The donation comes as Fiji battles a worsening HIV crisis.
The Ministry of Health declared an HIV outbreak in January, with infections more than doubling over the past year to around 5,900 cases by 2024 — an 11-fold increase since 2014.
This makes Fiji the second-fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region, behind Papua New Guinea.
Regional health experts warn that limited access to HIV testing and shortages of essential medicines have contributed to underdiagnosis and treatment gaps, underscoring the urgency of India’s medical assistance.
