MEDIA STATEMENT | 10 November 2026.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is aware of reports that a child was deliberately injured with a needle. We can confirm that a school-aged child with an alleged deliberate needle stick injury was seen at a health centre in Suva last week and referred to CWM Hospital on the same day. The child was assessed, treated and started on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication as a precaution. The child is now home and is receiving follow-up care.
The matter has been reported to the Fiji Police Force. Because it is under police investigation, the Ministry will not comment on how the injury is alleged to have happened. We will not release any further details about the child or family, and we ask that no one share information that could identify them, their school or their community.
Why was PEP given?
There is no information on where the needle came from or whether it carried anything that could cause infection, such as HIV. Healthcare workers treat every needle stick injury from an unknown source as a possible exposure, which is why PEP was started. This is standard care. It does not mean the child has been infected.
What is the risk?
The risk of getting HIV from a needle stick injury is low. Even when a needle is known to carry blood from a person living with HIV, infection occurs in about 3 of every 1,000 needle stick injuries. The risk is lower again outside a healthcare setting, because any blood on a needle is usually a very small amount and the virus does not survive long once exposed to air. This risk is lowered further when PEP is started within 72 hours after exposure.
A needle stick injury can also carry a risk of hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Anyone injured should be checked by a doctor, who will look at their vaccination history, arrange blood tests and give the right treatment.
How well does PEP work?
PEP is a 28-day course of HIV medicines. It works best when started as early as possible, ideally within a few hours and no later than 72 hours after exposure. Started early and taken as prescribed, it greatly lowers the chance of HIV infection after exposure. Follow-up blood tests over the next few months confirm whether a person is clear. PEP is free at the Ministry’s healthcare facilities.
Keeping children safe
Needle stick injuries in the community are uncommon. Most HIV infections in Fiji come from sharing needles and syringes when injecting drugs, and from sex without a condom. Parents can help keep children safe by encouraging them to walk in groups when out in public, to tell an adult straight away if they are hurt or approached by a stranger, and never to pick up or touch a needle or syringe they find.
If someone is injured by a needle:
•Wash the area gently with soap and running water. Do not squeeze, scrub or suck the wound.
•Go to the nearest health centre or hospital straight away.
•Report any assault or suspicious behaviour to police.
A message on HIV and stigma
Some comments online have linked this report generally to people living with HIV. Nothing is currently known about the source of the needle or the health status of anyone alleged to be involved, and we should avoid making assumptions about either. Speculation like this spreads fear and risks fuelling discrimination against the thousands of Fijians living with HIV, who are our family members, neighbours and workmates and deserve the same respect and privacy as anyone else.
Fear and blame make the HIV emergency worse, because they stop people from getting tested and treated. With treatment, people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives, and the medicine can also stop the virus from being passed on. This will help protect all of us.
Anyone who wants a HIV test or advice can visit your nearest health facility, including the Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs listed on the Ministry’s website: SRH/HIV – HEALTH FIJI
Testing and treatment are free and confidential.
ENDS