Asia and Oceania
Fiji
Last reviewed: 07 May 2009
Country information
Fiji Today
Country facts
Area: 18,333 sq km (11,385 sq miles)
Population: 837,271 (Fiji National Census of Population 2007)
Capital city: Suva
Main ethnic groups: Fijian, Indian, European, other Pacific Islanders and Chinese
Languages: English (official), numerous Fijian dialects, Hindi
Main religions: Christian, Hindu and Muslim
Currency: Fiji dollar (FJD)
Major political parties: Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (United Fijian Party) (SDL), Fiji Labour Party (FLP), United Peoples' Party (UPP), National Federation Party (NFP), NB: Fiji is currently under the administration of a military-led Government. Fiji is without a Parliament or a constitution and is under rule by Presidential decree.
Government: At present, the non-elected Government.
President: Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda CF, MBE, KStJ, MSD, JP
Interim Prime Minister: Commodore Voreqe 'Frank' Bainimarama (Bainimarama is also the Military Commander, and the Interim Minister for various other Government Ministries)
Interim Foreign Minister: Commodore Voreqe 'Frank' Bainimarama
Membership of international groups/organisations: Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Commonwealth (but suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth on 9 December 2006), Colombo Plan, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G77), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, (ICFTU), International Development Association, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organisation (IMO), International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat), Interpol, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), International Standards for Organisation (ISO) (subscriber), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement (SPARTECA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Island Forum (PIF) (but suspended on 2 May 2009), United Nations (UN), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Health
Fiji's health system compares relatively well with other Pacific Island nations.Inadequate health financing and shortage of health workers hamper Fiji primary health care efforts. 70-80% of the population has access to health services but only 40% have access to quality health services. Better government policy is needed to achieve health for all.
Statistics from Fiji's Health Ministry on sexually transmitted infections show a high rate of STIs among people ages 20 to 29, putting them at an increased risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
The HIV epidemic in most Pacific countries, excluding Papua New Guinea, has been classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a low prevalence epidemic and notifications data and ad hoc surveys support this observation. In the Pacific, the majority of the people infected with HIV are aged between 15 and 44 years. As at July 2008 there were 256 confirmed cases of HIV in the country, up from 182 in December 2004.
A valid Yellow Fever certificate is required by all travellers over one year old who have been in an infected area prior to arrival in Fiji.
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