On 21st January 2025, the health minister had declared that there’s a growing outbreak of HIV with a surge in the infection rate. In comparing to the 120 cases that were reported in the year 2019, there was a staggering rise in the year 2024, up to 1,093 cases. It is the 2nd fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region alone. 50% of the cases have been estimated to have arisen from the intravenous drug use. The alarming fact is that the age for intravenous drug use has dropped down to the younger people and it’s a larger population which makes it challenging to deal with on its own. Syringes filled up amphetamine are sold for a shocking $7 price. ‘Bluetoothing’ is the contagious practice of blood sharing through the use of syringes to pass on the drug to the next user. Fiji as a nation is now focused on acquiring more of the medications, the prevention and the increased testing with a 90-day plan.
Source: The Pacific, ABC News In-depth
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