Australia has pledged FJ$5.7 million to support Fiji’s national HIV Response Plan, extending its support for the country’s health sector.
Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong made this announcement during the launch of the Clinical Services Plan at Suva’s Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital yesterday.
The funding will support community-led HIV prevention and treatment initiatives, alongside expanded disease surveillance and testing.
This builds on Australia’s broader health assistance, including a previously committed FJ$30 million investment in CWM infrastructure and FJ$8 million annually to strengthen Fiji’s health systems.
“Access to quality healthcare matters to people around the world, and it certainly matters to the people of Fiji and Australia,” said Senator Wong. “This new support will help Fiji implement its HIV Response Plan and is a clear sign of the deep respect and priority we place on our Vuvale Partnership.”
“We are not just investing in infrastructure, we are investing in people, in dignity, and in a future where every Fijian can access the care they need, when they need it,” she added.
Senator Wong acknowledged the efforts of Fiji’s Ministry of Health in tackling the HIV outbreak. This comes at a critical time, as Fiji has reported 1,093 new HIV cases, enough to be considered a national outbreak.
Fiji’s Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr. Atonio Lalabalavu, highlighted the tangible progress driven by the Australia-Fiji partnership. “Australia’s support has allowed us to initiate real, practical reforms from critical infrastructure upgrades at CWM to digital health systems and improved medical supply chains,” he said.
He said the Clinical Services Plan, developed with input from CWM’s clinical teams, will shape the long-term redevelopment of Fiji’s national hospital and inform future service needs across the country.
Implementation is already underway, with early upgrades in progress, including repairing leaking roofs, expanding water storage capacity, and modernising maternity facilities.