> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.gtv.blue/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Fiji grapples with surge in HIV - URL: https://www.gtv.blue/fiji/ - Published: 2026-09-16T23:01:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-17T10:07:03.000Z - Description: The Pacific nation has declared an emergency. - Author: Gareth Johnson - Tags: An LGBTQ Guide to the World According to reporting by [the Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/17/fiji-declares-national-hiv-emergency-infections-surge-health?ref=gtv.blue), Fiji has declared a national emergency as transmission of HIV is surging - apparently fuelled by rising use of methamphetamine. “Today I am formally declaring a national health emergency in Fiji...” said Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu - Fiji's health and medical services minister - in a post on social media. “This decision recognises the seriousness of the epidemic and the urgent coordinated response our country now needs.” The health minister said the government estimates that one in every 60 adults in Fiji is now living with HIV. “Five years ago, the estimate was one in 167\. In 2025, we recorded 2,060 new HIV diagnoses...” explained Lalabalavu, adding that one in 50 pregnant women in Fiji is living with HIV. Media reports confirm that the health minister's declaration is backed by a cabinet decision of Fiji's government. Reporting suggests that the people of Fiji are caught in a perfect storm. The country is used as a key location for the shipment of illegal drugs in the region - this appears to have led to an increase in the availability and use of methamphetamine in Fiji. A lack of access to clean needles means that HIV is often transmitted through unsafe injecting of drugs. On top of that, inadequate testing and treatment resources means that the population doesn't have access to the available tools to prevent the transmission of the virus. According to analysis by UNAIDS, of an estimated 9,100 people living with HIV in Fiji in 2025, only 39% were aware of their HIV status and only 22% were accessing antiretroviral treatment. The situation in Fiji is a stark reminder that even though we have all the tools required to effectively treat HIV and also prevent the transmission of the virus, we lack the global political will to allocate the resources required. ## What's life like for LGBTQ people in Fiji? What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Fiji? Let’s take a look at some of the key equality measures. ### Is homosexuality legal in Fiji? Yes. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 2010. ### Are there anti-discrimination protections in place for LGBTQ people in Fiji? Yes. Fiji’s constitution includes explicit protections against discrimination on the grounds of sexuality. ### Is there Marriage Equality in Fiji? No. Marriage is explicitly limited to opposite-sex couples. There is no legal recognition of same-sex relationships. ### What’s life like for LGBTQ people in Fiji? Fiji is a socially conservative country, and homophobia is likely to be encountered. ## Sign up to Naked Men Talking Exploring intimacy, sexuality, and masculinity. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free to join. Unsubscribe anytime. [People need to know.Strip off and immerse yourself in the world of Naked Men Talking.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e8/3f/e83f7e76-af4a-4e9f-a171-931e3df7b588/content/images/icon/favicon-5a811ef8-5830-442f-9ffe-89440aa4931f.ico)Naked Men TalkingGareth Johnson![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e8/3f/e83f7e76-af4a-4e9f-a171-931e3df7b588/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_121044688-2-d0fa85d8-fcbc-4ade-9b81-dcfcc3d8ac5a.jpg)](https://www.gtv.blue/people-need-to-know-7/)