Fiji, Philippines, and PNG See Dramatic Rise in HIV Cases; Global Health Leaders Demand Urgent Action
Nadi, Fiji: The World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Western Pacific region has issued a serious alarm over sharp increases in HIV cases across the Philippines, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea (PNG), warning that the crisis poses a threat to national and regional security.
During a recent regional meeting in Fiji that brought together health ministers and partners, alarming new figures highlighted the severity of the growing epidemics in the three nations. Infections have risen tenfold in a decade in Fiji. New infections have surged sixfold since 2010 in Philippines. The country recently declared a national HIV crisis in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The primary factors driving this resurgence include injectable drug use and widespread gaps in prevention, testing, and treatment services.
WHO Regional Director Saia Ma’u Piukala and UNAIDS’ Eamonn Murphy used the platform to call for urgent, targeted action from regional governments. Their recommendations for a strengthened response include: Harm reduction programs, Early diagnosis, Universal treatment access, Aggressive efforts to tackle stigma and discrimination.
The meeting also commended several countries—Australia, Cambodia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Vietnam—for demonstrating strong results by successfully combining effective prevention strategies with universal access to antiretroviral treatment.