Global gains in the fight against HIV are at risk of being reversed, according to a new UNAIDS report, a warning that comes as Fiji grapples with a sharp increase in HIV diagnoses and expands testing and treatment services nationwide.
The UNAIDS Global AIDS Brief 2026 says decades of progress have driven new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths to their lowest levels in more than 30 years, but funding cuts and disruptions to prevention programmes now threaten that momentum.
According to the report, new HIV infections worldwide fell from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.2 million in 2025, while AIDS-related deaths dropped from 1.3 million to 570,000 over the same period. Antiretroviral treatment coverage increased from 24 percent to 78 percent globally.
However, UNAIDS warns that prevention programmes are becoming increasingly fragile.
“Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 remains within reach—but only if countries, communities and all partners act decisively,” the report states.
The report highlights that HIV prevention funding has been severely affected, with initial data from 62 countries showing the number of people receiving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) declining by 38 percent between 2024 and 2025. Funding for condom programmes also fell dramatically.
The findings carry particular significance for Fiji, where health authorities have identified HIV as a growing public health concern. The Ministry of Health’s 2025 HIV Surveillance Report recently revealed that the Central and Western Divisions accounted for 95 percent of all HIV infections recorded in Fiji, prompting an intensified response focused on testing, diagnosis and treatment services.
UNAIDS notes that countries have largely managed to protect treatment programmes despite funding pressures, with 32.1 million people worldwide receiving HIV treatment at the end of 2025. Globally, 88 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 89 percent of those diagnosed are on treatment, and 95 percent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression.
The report also stresses the importance of community-led organisations in reaching vulnerable populations, warning that many such groups face funding challenges that could undermine prevention and support services.
For Fiji, where authorities are rapidly expanding point-of-care testing and strengthening outreach programmes, the report serves as both a reminder of what can be achieved and a warning of what could be lost if prevention efforts are not sustained.
