SRH and HIV Unit Fiji

25/06/2026

25/06/2026

24/06/2026

As the live broadcast from the Vodafone Arena concludes, the conversation turns to the future of Fiji's national health policy and the upcoming 2026/2027 National Budget.

To resolve complex trends such as the high proportion of cases with unidentified transmission routes, the focus must shift toward comprehensive care enrolment and data linkage.

Through expanded case management and trained peer workforces, the Unit is committed to replacing stigma with institutional support and clinical understanding.

24/06/2026

The panel on fijivillage Straight Talk is evaluating the social barriers driving Fiji's 56% treatment enrolment gap and the issue of late clinical presentation.

Surveillance data indicates that social stigma and fear of discrimination remain primary deterrents preventing individuals from coming forward for early testing.

This delay compromises clinical outcomes, with late diagnosis currently linked to 60% of the country's recorded HIV mortalities.

To counter these barriers, the SRH & HIV Unit is deploying 15 Subdivisional Care Teams to transition resources out of major hospitals and directly into local health centers.

However, clinical decentralization relies heavily on building strong support systems within homes and communities to replace public anxiety with institutional trust and clinical understanding.

24/06/2026

The broadcast at the Vodafone Arena is addressing how unsafe injecting practices are driving the youth crisis, where 67% of cases fall within the 20 to 34 age bracket.

With 95% of national infections concentrated in the Central and Western Divisions, public focus has shifted toward community-led harm reduction initiatives.

A key element of the discussion is the deployment of the Needle Syringe Programme.

Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Druma are detailing how the Unit is leveraging community networks and peer-led channels to deliver sterile equipment and comprehensive prevention education directly to vulnerable groups.

This framework integrates harm reduction with a 300% expansion in point-of-care testing to intercept transmissions early and remove barriers to healthcare.

Follow the live broadcast via fijivillage as we map the operational adjustments required to protect our young adults.

24/06/2026

24/06/2026

We are live at the Vodafone Arena.

Dr. Jason Mitchell, Chair of the National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce, and Dr. Emali Bobo Druma, Lead for HIV Prevention, are now live on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.

Tonight’s high-stakes broadcast from the Fiji Showcase marks the transition of national surveillance data into a direct public forum. For members of the community in Suva, the doors are open; your presence in the town-hall gallery tonight ensures a transparent dialogue.

If you are unable to join us in person, follow fijivillage and our page for updates as the broadcast proceeds.

24/06/2026

This evening at 7, Dr. Jason Mitchell and Dr. Emali Bobo Druma from the SRH & HIV Unit will appear live on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan.

This broadcast serves as the anchor of the national campaign, transitioning the technical data of the Fiji HIV Surveillance Report 2025 into a transparent dialogue.

The live event takes place at the Fiji Showcase with the broadcast scheduled from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the Digicel Internal Entertainment Stage.

Members of the public are invited to join the town-hall audience in person.

Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children, with tickets available for purchase at the gate.

23/06/2026

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services, through the SRH & HIV Unit, recently strengthened its partnership with Fiji’s private medical sector at the Fiji College of General Practitioners (FCGP) Annual Conference.

Representing the Unit, Harm Reduction Lead Dr. Sailosi Soqo presented the technical and operational framework for Fiji’s Needle & Syringe Programme (NSP).

With 67% of new HIV diagnoses occurring within the 20–34 age demographic, the Unit is focusing heavily on moving beyond public clinic walls to meet patients where they are.

By expanding evidence-based harm reduction directly into primary care, the Unit aims to achieve three critical goals:

🌺 Clinical Integration: Equipping local GPs with the standardized tools and frameworks needed to manage substance-related HIV risks with the same clinical rigor applied to any chronic condition.

🌺 Accessible Interventions: Scaling up the WHO-endorsed Needle & Syringe Programme (NSP) within community-level clinics so life-saving resources are available right in the waiting room.

🌺 Stigma Reduction: Shifting the national discourse by normalizing harm reduction as a standard, compassionate component of public health.

“Medical expertise is the backbone of the evidence-based drug policy Fiji needs,” says Dr. Soqo. “When GPs lead the conversation on harm reduction, the entire community benefits.”

Through this decentralized approach, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and General Practitioners are working together to deliver early, life-saving interventions.

23/06/2026

MOHMS EXPANDS DECENTRALIZED CARE TO BRIDGE NATIONAL HIV TREATMENT GAP

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is accelerating the rollout of its decentralized care model to address the gap in antiretroviral therapy enrolment across the country.

Data from the Fiji HIV Surveillance Report 2025 indicates that while 56 percent of people living with HIV in Fiji are currently receiving treatment, the Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Unit is systematically moving services into primary healthcare settings to ensure access to care.

This strategic shift represents a transition from hospital-based treatment to a community centred approach.

By moving HIV services out of major divisional hospitals and directly into health centres and Subdivisional Care Teams, the Ministry is removing the logistical and social barriers that have previously hindered treatment enrolment.

The decentralized model ensures that lifesaving medication and clinical support are available closer to where people live and work.

“The 2025 surveillance data give us a clear roadmap for where we must focus out clinical resources,” said Dr. Jason Mitchell, Chair National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce and Interim Lead SRH and HIV Unit.

“Identifying a 56 percent treatment enrolment rate allows the SRH and HIV Unit to act with precision."

"We are currently integrating HIV care into the primary healthcare system to make treatment as accessible as any other routine medical service."

"Our goal is to bridge this gap by bringing care directly to the doorstep of every person and community in need of our support.”

The “Decentralized Care” expansion is a core pillar of the Ministry’s national response strategy.

This initiative includes the training of healthcare workers at the divisional level to manage HIV care and the strengthening of supply chains to ensure the consistent availability of antiretroviral therapy.

The SRH and HIV Unit is also utilizing the 15 established Subdivisional Care Teams to provide a seamless link between initial diagnosis and the commencement of treatment.

Medical evidence confirms that consistent treatment leads to viral suppression, which allows individuals living with HIV to lead long and healthy lives while also preventing the further transmission of the virus.

The Ministry is prioritizing this “Treatment as Prevention” strategy to bring the national outbreak under control.

By focusing on the entire HIV care cascade, the SRH and HIV Unit is ensuring that patients are supported from their first positive test through to long term clinical success.

“The Ministry is taking a proactive approach to this health challenge,” Dr Mitchell added.

“By decentralizing our services, we are demonstrating our commitment to a health system that is responsive to the needs of the community."

"The SRH & HIV Unit remains focused on maintaining the highest standards of clinical care ensuring that no one is left behind due to their location or circumstances.”

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services encourages anyone who has tested positive for HIV to visit their nearest health centre to discuss treatment options. All services are free, confidential, and delivered by trained professionals.

The full Fiji HIV Surveillance Report 2025 and details on the decentralized care plan can be found on the official MOHMS website.

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