Ten: that's the age of the youngest person with HIV that Sesenieli Naitala has ever met. When she first started Fiji's Survivor Advocacy Network in 2013, that young boy was yet to be born. Now he is one of thousands of Fijians to have contracted the bloodborne virus in recent years – many of them aged 19 or younger, and many of them through intravenous drug use.
More young people are using drugs, Ms. Naitala tells the BBC. Over the past five years, Fiji has become the center of one of the world's fastest-growing HIV epidemics. In 2014, the country had fewer than 500 people living with HIV. By 2024, that number had soared to approximately 5,900 – an elevenfold leap. With 1,583 new cases recorded in 2024, Fiji experienced a thirteenfold increase in its average.
The alarming stats have prompted health officials to declare an HIV outbreak and warn of potential future spikes in cases. Experts highlight the growing trend of unsafe practices among drug users, with "bluetoothing" becoming prevalent – sharing blood after using drugs, risking more infections.
The situation is dire: Fiji's Ministry of Health points out that drug-induced HIV cases are rising, with reports finding that 20% of new cases in 2024 came from intravenous drug use. With a significant trafficking hub for crystal meth, the nation struggles with a youth population increasingly affected by substance use and the associated risks of HIV.
Community education and increased testing are essential, yet many challenges remain in ensuring access to clean needles and safe practices, making it difficult to combat this public health crisis head-on.
More young people are using drugs, Ms. Naitala tells the BBC. Over the past five years, Fiji has become the center of one of the world's fastest-growing HIV epidemics. In 2014, the country had fewer than 500 people living with HIV. By 2024, that number had soared to approximately 5,900 – an elevenfold leap. With 1,583 new cases recorded in 2024, Fiji experienced a thirteenfold increase in its average.
The alarming stats have prompted health officials to declare an HIV outbreak and warn of potential future spikes in cases. Experts highlight the growing trend of unsafe practices among drug users, with "bluetoothing" becoming prevalent – sharing blood after using drugs, risking more infections.
The situation is dire: Fiji's Ministry of Health points out that drug-induced HIV cases are rising, with reports finding that 20% of new cases in 2024 came from intravenous drug use. With a significant trafficking hub for crystal meth, the nation struggles with a youth population increasingly affected by substance use and the associated risks of HIV.
Community education and increased testing are essential, yet many challenges remain in ensuring access to clean needles and safe practices, making it difficult to combat this public health crisis head-on.
