WHO warns unsafe injecting practices fueling Fiji's fast-growing HIV epidemic
Summary
The World Health Organization warns that unsafe injecting practices due to lack of harm reduction services are fueling Fiji's fast-growing HIV epidemic, with a sharp rise in cases linked to needle sharing among drug users.
Key Points
- Unsafe injecting practices and absence of harm reduction services increase HIV risk among people who inject drugs in Fiji.
- Fiji recorded 1,583 new HIV cases in 2024 and 1,226 in the first half of 2025, showing a rapid surge.
- Methamphetamine is the most commonly injected drug, often involving shared and reused needles.
- Fiji's Ministry of Health and partners are implementing strategies to expand testing, treatment, and harm reduction measures including needle and syringe programs.
