Photo: AFP/ SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
The Fiji Medical Association (FMA) is calling on the government to declare an HIV outbreak "as a matter of priority".
FMA president Dr Alipate Vakamocea said in a statement on Monday that the Association "is deeply concerned about the alarming rise in HIV cases" across the country.
The increase in infections is made worse by gaps in testing, treatment, and prevention, and "represents a serious public health threat," he said.
HIV infections in Fiji rose 241 percent between 2010 and 2023. The country's Health and Medical Services Ministry (MHMS) reported over 550 new cases of HIV from for the first six months of the year - a 33 percent increase compared to 2023.
It warned that while sexual transmission is known to be the primary mode of transmission for HIV in the country, cases where the disease is transmitted through injectable drug use - linked to the hard drug crisis - are also on the rise.
The FMA is urging the Health Ministry to take three main actionss: declare an HIV outbreak, expand targeted testing, prevention, and treatment efforts, and invest in better data collection, analysis, and reporting systems.
"Officially recognise that the surge in HIV cases, defines an outbreak and this recognition will allow for leveraging lessons from Covid to mobilise resources, enhance multisectoral collaboration, and engage international technical assistance to contain the epidemic," the FMA statement said.
The FMA says it is ready to support the Health Ministry.
"We believe that a united, co-ordinated, and evidence-based response is critical to curbing the HIV epidemic and preventing further loss of life.
"We urge MHMS to act decisively and prioritize the implementation of the Fiji HIV and Illicit Drug Surge Strategy 2024-2026 as an immediate step toward epidemic control.
"The time to act is now," he added.