PUBLIC ADVISORY #40 | 21 September 2026.
The Batiki Nursing Station in the Lomaviti Group has already reported a surge in cases of diarrhoea, highlighting the immediate human toll of this climate adversity.
In response to this urgent health threat, the Ministry of Health & Medical Services has deployed an emergency team to Batiki Island to combat a severe, El Niño-driven water crisis.
Prolonged dry conditions have depleted local rainwater harvesting systems, leaving maritime communities in a desperate struggle for clean water.
To bring immediate relief, an emergency water response team departed Suva for Batiki Island at 8:00 PM last night. The current operation prioritizes the local boarding school and the health center, where families have been forced to share limited communal water reserves.
Continuous supply trips are already scheduled from Levuka to maintain this vital water lifeline.
To protect residents and prevent a wider disease outbreak, the Ministry has put the following emergency measures into action:
- Medical Lifelines: Clean drinking water has been transported from Ovalau specifically to prepare life-saving Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS), and essential antibiotics have been pre-positioned at the nursing station.
- School Protections: Medical officers and health inspectors are on the ground at the boarding school conducting regular health checks and auditing water safety to shield vulnerable students.
- Supply Chain Management: While the WASH project equipped health centers with water tanks, tank capacity alone cannot withstand a prolonged drought. The Ministry is actively managing the transition to barged and carted water supplies.
Critical Diarrhoea Prevention Guidelines To stop the spread of illness, the Ministry urges all residents to practice the following water-safety measures:
- Boil All Drinking Water: Bring water to a boil for at least one minute before drinking, cooking, or brushing teeth.
- Practice Strict Hand Hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and clean water before preparing food, before eating, and after using the toilet.
- Protect Water Sources: Keep water storage containers tightly covered to prevent contamination, and use a clean utensil to scoop water.
With local authorities warning that the driest period of this El Niño event will persist between October and December, the Ministry is working around the clock to ensure this environmental crisis does not become a medical tragedy.
ENDS