15/06/2026
FIJI INTRODUCES PrEP SERVICES AS PART OF EXPANDED HIV PREVENTION EFFORTS
The Sexual Health and Reproductive Health and HIV Unit under the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in partnership with UNAIDS, is supporting the continued expansion of access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Fiji as part of the country’s broader HIV prevention.
“Fiji is facing the most serious HIV epidemic in our history, and we owe it to every Fijian to respond with the same urgency the numbers demand. PrEP is a safe, effective, and proven tool that can stop HIV before it starts. Today, for the first time in our country, we are taking that tool directly into the community. This is what a modern public health response looks like,” said Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr. Antonio Lalabalavu.
PrEP is a safe and highly effective HIV prevention medication for people who are HIV negative. When taken as prescribed, PrEP significantly reduces the risk of acquiring HIV and is now widely used globally as part of combination HIV prevention approaches alongside condoms, harm reduction, regular testing, treatment services, and broader community-led prevention efforts.
Studies have shown that PrEP can reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV by around 99% when taken consistently. Combination prevention refers to using multiple evidence-based prevention strategies together to reduce HIV transmission and support people to make informed choices about their sexual health and wellbeing.
A breakthrough community PrEP outreach initiative was conducted in Suva, where health teams delivered vital HIV and PrEP education alongside on-site HIV and STI testing. In a major milestone for the national response, 11 individuals successfully initiated PrEP treatment immediately onsite.
“We believe that every Fijian, regardless of who they are or who they love, deserves access to the healthcare they need in a place where they feel safe. This PrEP outreach is not just about tablets. It is about trust, the Ministry’s trust in communities to know what they need, and the community’s trust that we will show up without judgment. That is the partnership these epidemic demands, and it is the partnership we are committed to,” said Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr. Antonio Lalabalavu.
The event marked a turning point for hosts, the community network Chai & Chat.
“We are proud to have hosted the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for this community PrEP outreach as part of our monthly safe space session. As the first q***r community space in Fiji to host a session of this kind with the Ministry, we see this as a meaningful step toward ensuring our communities have access to affirming health information, trusted services, and the dignity of informed choice. We encourage anyone who is eligible to speak with a healthcare provider, enrol for PrEP, and be part of Fiji’s HIV prevention response,” said Zulfi Alil, Coordinator of Chai & Chat.
Healthcare providers from Medical Services Pacific (MSP) and Sexual and Reproductive Health clinics in the country also participated in community-focused PrEP training sessions in Suva led by UNAIDS Consultant Dr Iryna Zablotska-Manos, an internationally recognized HIV prevention researcher and public health expert with extensive experience in PrEP implementation and HIV prevention policy across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
The training supports frontline providers to deliver person-centered, stigma-free HIV prevention services, strengthen community awareness, and ensure people can access accurate information to make informed choices about their health.
“By empowering our community networks and simplifying the clinical pathway, we are removing the traditional structural barriers that have hindered access to HIV prevention, said Dr Dashika Balak of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Unit.
“Our ongoing partnership with Medical Services Pacific is our commitment to capacity building, ensuring that healthcare providers at every level are fully equipped to deliver immediate, stigma-free, and life-saving preventative care directly to the people who need it most.”
Dr. Balak encourages anyone interested in PrEP to speak openly with a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate prevention option for their individual needs.
The rollout coincides with ongoing high-level consultations with civil society organizations aimed at securing sustained operational support and expanding access mechanisms to solidify Fiji’s preventative framework.
“PrEP gives people another option to take control of their health and protect themselves from HIV. Expanding awareness and access is an important part of modern HIV prevention, particularly as Fiji continues to strengthen its national HIV response,” said Renata Ram, UNAIDS Pacific HIV Adviser.
This work is supported through the Indo-Pacific HIV Partnership, funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and implemented in partnership with UNAIDS to strengthen HIV prevention, community engagement, and regional health security across the Pacific.
