By Monica Kayombo/Zambia, Lusaka,
GOVERNMENT has committed AUD8 million over two and a half years to strengthen Fiji and other Pacific Island countries’ response to rapidly rising HIV infections.
The funding, provided through the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), will support the Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) National Systems Stream, which will be led by the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM).
ASHM will work with five regional and international public health institutions, Fiji National University, The Pacific Community, the Burnet Institute, the Doherty Institute and the Kirby Institute to strengthen health systems for HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.
The AUD8 million investment forms part of a broader AUD48 million Australian Government commitment aimed at supporting Fiji and the wider Pacific to respond to what health authorities describe as rapidly escalating HIV infections.
ASHM Director of Global Dr Michelle O’Connor said Fiji experienced an unprecedented HIV outbreak in 2025 and that the epidemic continues to pose a major public health challenge.
“2025 saw unprecedented HIV outbreak in Fiji, and it continues to be the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world,” she said.
She said the consortium would work across countries, institutions and governments to facilitate locally driven solutions and strengthen national capacity to respond to HIV.
The initiative will work closely with the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services and other Pacific governments, with assistance tailored to individual countries’ priorities and requests.
Areas of support could include developing HIV strategies, expanding testing, treatment and care services, harm reduction programmes, workforce development, laboratory strengthening, digital health, surveillance and building capacity to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
The National Systems Stream will also work alongside ASPHA’s Community Stream and Commodities Stream to ensure a coordinated approach to HIV responses across the Pacific.
Dr Jason Mitchell, Interim Lead of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Unit and Chairperson of Fiji’s National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce, welcomed the additional support.
“Australia has already been supporting us, within weeks of the announcement of the HIV outbreak in 2025,” Dr Mitchell said.
“We greatly appreciate this increased support, and look forward to working with our partners to continue delivering – with urgency, at scale, and where it matters most.”
ASHM said it has worked with governments and health workers across the Pacific for more than two decades and has, over the past year, supported Fiji’s Ministry of Health to strengthen the capacity of its health workforce to respond to the HIV epidemic.
ASHM Chief Executive Officer Alexis Apostolellis said the new investment presented an opportunity to strengthen national leadership and build resilient health systems capable of responding to both HIV and future public health threats.
“Together, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen the workforce, support national leadership and build more resilient health systems that can respond effectively to both current and emerging HIV challenges,” he said.
The Australian Government’s ASPHA initiative is intended to help Pacific Island countries implement evidence-based national HIV responses, with the broader objective of containing HIV as a public health threat.
The investment comes at a time when rising HIV infections are presenting significant long-term health, social and economic challenges for Fiji and other Pacific Island nations, increasing pressure on health systems and the workforce.
By combining government leadership with technical support from regional and international public health institutions, the programme aims to ensure that the Pacific’s response is locally led while drawing on expertise and lessons from across the region.
