Fiji’s HIV crisis is exploding—and queer communities are in the crosshairs. Stigma, drugs, and political inaction are fuelling an outbreak that’s three times worse than reported.
Fiji is in the grip of a rapidly worsening HIV crisis, and queer and marginalised communities are bearing the brunt. According to a recent report by BenarNews, new modelling suggests as many as 6,100 people are living with HIV in Fiji—nearly three times the official figure of 2,077 reported by the government.
The sharp rise is being driven by intravenous drug use, especially a dangerous practice known locally as blue-toothing—where blood containing methamphetamine is injected from one user to another. It’s a disturbing snapshot of a public health system under immense strain.
Between January and September of 2024, Fiji recorded 1,093 new HIV diagnoses—a nearly tenfold jump from the 120 cases reported in 2019. Yet, just 1,300 people are currently receiving treatment.
Dr Jason Mitchell, head of the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce, told BenarNews that Fiji’s health system is dangerously out of step with the reality on the ground.
“The whole programme needs to be reviewed and reshaped to meet the needs of the new epidemic,” he said.“Now we’ve got drug use, so the epidemic has changed significantly… but the programme hasn’t.”
In January, the Fijian government declared a national HIV outbreak, announcing a 90-day emergency plan and a three-year surge strategy. But many say these steps come after years of damaging neglect.
Dr Alipate Vakamocea, president of the Fiji Medical Association, highlighted the extent of the collapse:
“Last year we had 19 babies born HIV positive. So we haven’t just failed — our system has been destroyed,” he told BenarNews.
For Fiji’s LGBTQ+ community—especially trans people, queer sex workers, and drug users—the crisis is compounded by social stigma and legal barriers. Advocacy groups say the government’s reluctance to embrace harm reduction has had fatal consequences. Initiatives like needle exchange programmes and drug rehabilitation, common in Aotearoa, have not been implemented due to conservative political resistance.
“The Ministry of Health needs to stand up,” said Sesenieli Naitala of the Survival Advocacy Network, speaking to BenarNews.
“They have stopped people from getting tested, they discriminate, they don’t provide information, and they look at people differently when they’re diagnosed.”
This hostile environment discourages testing and care, especially among those already marginalised by gender identity, sexual orientation, or sex work. There is no government data or surveillance focused on LGBTQ+ people or drug users, making targeted interventions nearly impossible.
Rochelle, a 35-year-old former sex worker and meth user now living with HIV, shared her story from a Suva safe house:
“I cried every night in bed and would just fall asleep in tears… I went crying to church, knelt down and prayed seeking forgiveness,” she told BenarNews.
Now on treatment and working as a hospital orderly, Rochelle volunteers to help others in her community—proof that peer-led resilience is alive, even when institutional support is absent.
In New Zealand, we reported 235 new HIV cases in 2023, including 97 diagnosed locally—over half of which were acquired domestically. The contrast in healthcare capacity is stark, but Fiji’s outbreak is a cautionary tale for our entire region.
“Globally, we are moving towards peer-led intervention… The Ministry just needs to provide the clinical support, and let the community handle awareness and care,” said Jokapeci Cati, the first Fijian woman to publicly reveal her HIV status, speaking to BenarNews.
The message from Fiji is clear: ignoring the intersection of drug use, stigma, and queer marginalisation fuels epidemics. For Aotearoa and the wider Pacific, the path forward lies in regional solidarity—and in letting those most affected lead the response.
PHOTO | Bill Fairs
