Category Public Advisory

Free health checks with Smartlab Fiji at Fiji International

Last Wednesday, Ministers for Industry, Tourism and Trade, Youth and Sports, and Health and Medical Services showed their support for the health initiative and partnership of SmartLab Fiji and Fiji International on 14^th September 2016.

During the upcoming Fiji International golf tournament, Fiji International is teaming with SmartLab Fiji for the first time to offer free health checkups for bystanders and golfing participants in Natadola.

Former Health Minister, Hon. Jone Usamate mentioned the importance of sports for the nation. He also cautioned, “Although Fiji is world renowned for being leaders in rugby, which is a good thing, we are also world known for leading NCD’s, which still needs improvement.”

Mr Usamate stressed the critical role of regular health checks and knowing your health status.

Collaboration to continue between FNU and MOHMS

Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Mr Philip Davies, addressed organisers and members of the FNU Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium (PIHRS) on 14^th September at Holiday Inn, Suva. This was Mr Davies’ first address in Fiji, and he was enthused by the diverse symposium.

“It is encouraging to see the balance of topics,” remarked Mr Davies to FNU’s researchers. “Local researchers are in a unique space to explore not only relevant health issues, but the contributing environmental and social factors,” he said.

Chief Guest, Professor Nii-K Plange, mentioned the two-day symposium an opportunity for robust health research to improve health care service and delivery, and improve university curriculum.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted the importance of accurate and timely research to strengthen knowledgeable policy-making and is looking forward to the partnership of the Health Ministry with colleges and institutions of medicine and science.

Mr Davies commended researchers and further encouraged them to publish their work.

Nurses discuss “Primary Health Care Nursing toward NCD Prevention” in Japan

Earlier this month, ten nurses from the Central Division attended a two-week training in Tokyo and Shiga Japan, facilitated by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

MoHMS nurses, health officials and JICA representatives met to debrief on the recent initiative “Primary Health Care Nursing towards NCD prevention”, where attendees shared their experiences and learnings with colleagues.

The training covered areas including evidence-based practice for NCD prevention and control at primary health care level; operational capacity strengthening at primary level; monitoring and evaluation capacity strengthening at divisional and sub-divisional level.

The nurses hope to share good practices and lessons learned from the training with health teams around the country, and also with other pacific island countries.

Divisional Health Sister Penina Vuniyasi said the team also learned a lot about nutrition, including serving sizes. “When we first arrived in Japan, we Fijians were taking one of every type of food. But the kitchen staff told us only to take one! Then we realized we should focus on the quality, not the quantity of the food”, she explained.

New water testing equipments will reduce communicable diseases

Water quality testing equipment presented to the Health Ministry.

Thanks to a donation of water testing equipment from the WHO and UNICEF, the Health Ministry will improve its capacity to monitor the quality of drinking water in Fiji.

The donation of 13 Potatest and 4 Potalab kits will greatly assist the Environmental Health Unit of the Health Ministry to conduct water quality monitoring.

Receiving the water testing equipment, the former Health Minister Hon. Jone Usamate explained why this equipment would be so useful, especially in rural areas.

“In Fiji, approximately 53% of rural populations drink water drawn from creeks and rivers and this initiative will be able to monitor and enable immediate response action by the Ministry to limit transmission of water borne diseases and subsequent loss of lives”, Mr Usamate said.

The equipment will be distributed to TC Winston-affected areas such as Rakiraki, Korovou, Vanuabalavu, Lomaiviti and Taveuni and later on to other rural communities in Fiji.

Hon. Usamate expressed his sincere gratitude to WHO and UNICEF for this initiative, which will make daily tasks such as hand-washing and preparing food easier and safer for many Fijians.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Centre for Communicable Disease Control at the Ministry of Health will continue to work with WHO and UNICEF in coordinating all water testing activities.

Health Ministry hopes to end AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Participants at the HIV prevention training

The 2016-2020 National Strategic Plan on Reducing HIV and STI in Fiji is now ready for implementation by the Health Ministry, in conjunction with stakeholders including civil society organisations which are undergoing training in disease prevention.

This was revealed by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services Mr Phillip Davies at the national capacity building workshop for stakeholders, held in Suva this week.

Mr Davies noted a collaborative effort was essential in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and this requires commitment from all stakeholders.

“As the fight against HIV/AIDS shifts from an emergency response to a long term response, the role of civil society organisations (CSOs), including community based, non-governmental and faith based organisations in HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support efforts is important”, he said.

“Fiji’s response to HIV has shown improvements and has broken down barriers, especially in the last five years, including a reduction of TB-related deaths amongst people living with HIV by 32% since 2004.

Mr Davies further added that the HIV/AIDS response has always been about partnership.

“I sincerely acknowledge all civil society organisations present in the training here today, as your continuous involvement and commitment is fundamental to ensuring robust local responses to HIV”.

Meanwhile, the five-day training is not only aimed at reducing and reversing HIV infection in Fiji, but ensuring equity and quality of life for everyone by reducing stigma and discrimination.