The Samoa Faafafine and Faatama Association will be hosting a rally this week to push for HIV/AIDS prevention to coincide with International Women’s Day.

Coordinator Gustav Su'a said this celebration was given to the SFA to be at the forefront and conduct awareness.

HIV/AIDS remains a real threat and with cases in neighbouring countries increasing, there is concern about the lack of awareness and lack of access to contraceptives that can be used to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Su'a said the whole purpose of this rally was to remind the faafafine and faatama community the importance of standing together and pushing for ways to prevent this deadly disease.

Su'a said there were concerns in their community because high numbers of cases in Fiji and other Pacific Islands.

Su’a said Fiji was a well-known tourism destination frequented by many even Samoans.

"This is concerning and which is why our Faafafine and Faatama community will be having this important rally."

Su'a stated that HIV was real and so was the need for education, awareness and action.

"We're coming together to know our status, push for better policies, support services, engage our community and strengthen health initiatives," he added.

The rally takes place on 8 March at the Maritime conference room, Mulinuu.

Fiji’s minister of health declared an official HIV outbreak in January, citing 1,093 new cases from January to September 2024 – triple the number from the same period in 2023.

The World Health Organization defines a disease outbreak based on the number of cases being in excess of normal expectations. Similar to an epidemic, an outbreak typically refers to a more limited geographic area.

Declaring an outbreak enables prompt public health response measures and mobilises domestic and international resources to respond to the crisis.

The outbreak has been attributed to Fiji’s ongoing methamphetamine crisis. The island nation is a major hub for drug trafficking to Australia and New Zealand, contributing to an upsurge in drug use.

Preliminary Ministry of Health data show half of the newly diagnosed individuals receiving anti-retroviral therapy contracted HIV through injecting drugs.