FAITH and community leaders meeting Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong, in Suva, pressed for community-led action as Fiji confronts a deepening drug crisis and a growing HIV outbreak.
The roundtable, held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, focused on how local networks can strengthen prevention, harm reduction and support for people living with HIV.
Participants stressed that government policies and donor-funded programs will only work if they are backed by communities and delivered in ways that uphold compassion, dignity and inclusion.
The discussion was facilitated by the General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Reverend James Bhagwan, who urged leaders and service providers to work together to guide Fijians and their families through the overlapping challenges of drugs and HIV.
Wong said Australia would continue engaging with faith, indigenous and community leaders on shared regional challenges, and welcomed views from the roundtable to help shape Canberra’s ongoing support for Fiji’s national response.
She also acknowledged the role community and faith organisations play in reaching people who may not access formal services.
Australia said its support would continue through the Vuvale Partnership, framing drugs and HIV as shared challenges requiring coordinated action across government, health services, community groups and regional partners.
Fiji has recorded a sharp rise in HIV infections in recent years, while authorities and community groups have warned that the country’s illicit drug market is expanding and driving wider social harms.
Health advocates say stigma and fear continue to keep some people from testing and treatment, highlighting the need for trusted messengers at the community level.
Participants called for deeper coordination between churches, civil society and health agencies, and for responses that prioritise prevention and support services alongside enforcement.
Several also urged sustained resourcing for grassroots programs, arguing that collective action could help curb new infections and reduce drug-related harm.
