Fiji Declares National Emergency as HIV Rates Surge Alongside Dangerous Drug Practices
Fiji faces a severe public health crisis after becoming the epicenter of one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in the world, prompting the government to declare a national emergency. Approximately one in every 60 adults in the Pacific archipelago now lives with the virus, a sharp increase from one in 167 five years ago, according to reports by bbc.com. The escalating outbreak highlights persistent vulnerabilities in the region and draws international concern over newly documented drug-use methods driving transmission.
The Spread of “Bluetoothing” and Blood-Sharing Risks
Compounding the HIV outbreak is a dangerous drug-consumption practice known as “bluetoothing,” where individuals extract blood from someone who has already injected drugs and inject it into another person to achieve a secondary high. Drug Free Fiji Executive Director Kalesi Volatabu told bbc.com that she witnessed five or six people standing around ready to receive such an injection, noting the exponential transmission risks involved. While the practice has also been observed in African nations such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated in a rapid assessment that it found limited evidence of widespread bluetoothing during interviews with 56 people who inject drugs in Fiji.
Fiji launches needle exchange to combat HIV crisis
The Ministry of Health in Fiji officially recognized the practice as a contributing factor to the country’s rising HIV numbers in 2024, designating the outbreak a national crisis in January and announcing plans to launch a syringe and needle exchange program. Despite government action, health workers and community advocates emphasize that the problem remains severe.eldeber.com.bo and acento.com.do report that grassroots groups continue to urge global health agencies to treat the issue with urgency, citing extreme poverty and limited access to sterile injection equipment as primary drivers behind sharing contaminated gear.
Bluetoothing increases HIV and hepatitis risks in Fiji
What is “bluetoothing” in the context of intravenous drug use?
Bluetoothing is a dangerous practice where drug users extract blood from someone who has recently injected drugs and immediately inject it into another person’s veins to experience a secondary high or stretch limited drug supplies. According to the WHO, the method carries an exceptionally high risk of transmitting bloodborne pathogens like HIV and hepatitis B and C.
How severely has HIV affected Fiji?
Fiji’s Ministry of Health declared a national emergency after the infection rate climbed to approximately one in every 60 adults, compared to one in 167 just five years prior. Health officials attribute the rising numbers to a combination of increased testing, poverty, and unsafe injection practices.
Are international organizations seeing bluetoothing in other countries?
Yes. While a WHO rapid assessment in Fiji found limited direct reporting of the practice among a small sample of drug users, community organizers and UNAIDS officials have documented similar methods in African nations including Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.