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🇫🇯 Fiji /Health & Science

Misconceptions hinder HIV awareness efforts in Fiji

From FBC News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Misconceptions, particularly the view of HIV as a "gay disease," hinder public understanding and awareness efforts in Fiji.
  • Fiji recorded 117 HIV-related deaths last year, with men accounting for the majority of cases.
  • Health officials urge early medical intervention, as many patients are not accessing treatment, and the 20-24 age group shows the highest infection rates.

Persistent misconceptions about HIV, including its outdated association solely with gay men, are impeding crucial awareness efforts in Fiji, according to Shamima Ali, Coordinator for the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre. While HIV emerged in the 1980s with a link to gay men, Ali stressed that current data reveal the virus affects individuals from diverse backgrounds. This lingering stigma, fueled by outdated beliefs, distracts from the actual factors driving transmission.

Last year, Fiji reported 117 HIV-related deaths. The Ministry of Health indicates that men constituted 65.7% of cases, women 33.9%, and transgender individuals 0.4%. Ali emphasized that effective prevention strategies must move beyond stereotypes and focus on education, open dialogue, and evidence-based approaches. She highlighted the need for candid discussions about gender inequalities, as many women contract HIV from their partners, and transmission from mother to child can occur without proper medical interventions.

And that’s because of male sexual behaviour and so on. I don’t believe, I think everything we do, whether it be drugs, whether it be HIV AIDS, is a knee-jerk solution.

— Shamima AliFiji Women's Crisis Centre Coordinator discussing factors contributing to HIV transmission and the need for comprehensive solutions.

Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa affirmed that HIV is preventable, treatable, and manageable with timely medical care. However, he expressed concern that many of the 2,016 patients currently living with HIV in Fiji are not accessing their necessary medication. The latest data reveals that the 20 to 24 age group has the highest number of infections. As Fiji grapples with increasing HIV rates, there are growing calls for enhanced public education and awareness campaigns grounded in factual information and scientific evidence.

In 2025, 2,016 patients have HIV. It is the latest data that has been released by the Ministry of Health as of this week. And many of these patients are not accessing treatment with the replenishment of their HIV medication. It is also concerning that the age group of 20 to 24 recorded the highest number.

— Penioni RavunawaAssistant Health Minister providing statistics on HIV cases and treatment access in Fiji.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by FBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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