Tag Public Notices

SEARCH & RESCUE OPERATIONS INTENSIFIES FOR LAKEBA MEDICAL TEAM

PUBLIC ADVISORY #36 | 30 July 2026.

Joint search and rescue operations have intensified following the disappearance of the Lakeba Medical Team out in the Lau Waters with national and international assets deployed to the search area.

Government officials, emergency services, and international partners are working in a highly coordinated effort to locate the six missing healthcare workers. Currently there have been strategic coordination and briefings with rescue operation teams including the Commissioner Eastern’s Office and the Provincial Administrator Lau (PA Lau) to discuss and to streamline response efforts. A strategic coordination meeting with the Commander of the Fiji Navy and his team to map out maritime search grids was held this afternoon.

Rescue Operation Leads have updated the Minister for Health and the Minister for
Rural and Maritime Development on the situation and ongoing operations.

Active Search Operations Update:

  • Aerial Search: A chartered helicopter launched an aerial search over Lakeba
    waters at 11:30 a.m., scouring the area for approximately four hours.
  • Naval Deployment: With no immediate sightings reported from the air, a Fiji
    Navy rescue vessel departed at 4:00 p.m. to continue surface operations.
  • International Support: The New Zealand Defense Force will arrive tomorrow morning to join the operation, providing critical support to the Government of Fiji and the Fiji Navy.

Further updates will be shared as verified information becomes available.

ENDS

EMERGENCY RESPONSE INITIATED FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS MISSING OUT AT SEA

PUBLIC ADVISORY #35 | 30 July 2026.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is relieved that the boat handler for MD Ono-i-Lau has been found this morning, however six more healthcare workers remain missing out in Lau Waters.

The six healthcare workers consist of a Medical Officer, Dental Officer, Charge Nurse, Peer Educator, Health Inspector and a Dental Assistant who were part of a medical outreach team.

The team departed Moce at 7:00am yesterday (Wednesday) bound for Oneata and was expected to arrive after two hours.

The vessel which is powered by a 75 Horsepower engine and carrying sufficient fuel and life jackets. After failing to arrive at the expected time, the District Nurse in Oneata contacted Lakeba Sub Divisional Hospital and search parties were mobilized yesterday afternoon.

Information gathered from the boat handler indicated that after the engine failed, the boat began to take in water. The medical team removed the wooden planks used as flooring in the vessel as their floaters and had their life jackets on.

In an effort to get a mobile reception, the boat handler offered to swim to Aiwa Island and left the rest of the medical team safely secured with no injuries sustained to any of them.

After swimming at open sea for hours, the boat handler was found this morning by a search party from Lakeba.

Over the last 24-hours the Ministry has been working in collaboration with Rescue Operation teams with the Fiji Police Force, Fiji Navy Rescue Coordinating Centre, the Commissioner Eastern’s Office and other organisations.

The Ministry has activated the Command Centres at Lakeba Sub Divisional Hospital and the Eastern Health Divisional Office. Alerts have also been distributed across all 8 villages in Lakeba, as well as community leaders via the district nurses in Nayau, Vanuavatu, Moala, and the Lomaloma Medical Team.

The Ministry acknowledges the sensitivity of the situation and has prioritized informing the next-of-kins of those six healthcare workers still missing at sea. Any further developments, the Ministry will ensure the next-of-kins are reliably informed.

The boat handler is currently undergoing medical treatment at Lakeba Hospital.

The Ministry is appealing to all seafarers, mariners, and coastal communities in the Lakeba–Oneata passage to please keep a lookout for any sightings. Any further developments will be updated.

We ask for your understanding and prayers during this difficult time.

ENDS

VUNISEA HOSPITAL MORTUARY PROJECT IN PROGRESS

PUBLIC ADVISORY # 33 | 1 June 2026.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is currently working on the contract documentation for the Vunisea Hospital Mortuary Project in Kadavu after approval from the Government Tender Board (GTB). The Vunisea Hospital Morgue is part of the nine mortuary projects approved by the GTB for upgrades. Part of the upgrade will include the;

  • Removal of the old mortuary unit;
  • Renovation of the mortuary infrastructure;
  • Supply, installation and commissioning of two berth units and associated modern equipment;
  • Installation of the new switchboard and circuit breakers which also include waterproof power points;
  • Training of staff to maintain these units;

Each project is expected to take 6-8 months to complete after the signing of the contract and initial payment. The Vunisea Hospital Morgue is currently non-operational due to the challenges with consistent power supply at Vunisea Government Station in Kadavu. The Ministry sympathises with members of the public in the province of Kadavu for the inconvenience caused in burying their loved ones.

ENDS

FIJIANS URGED TO AVOID TRAVEL TO A FEW CENTRAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES

PUBLIC ADVISORY # 32 | 25 May 2026.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services advises Fijians to avoid non-essential travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and neighbouring countries with shared land borders, including South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Angola, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. Anyone travelling to these destination is advised to take precautions to avoid possible exposure to Ebola Disease by:

  • Avoiding contact with sick individuals;
  • Avoiding contact with animals in forested areas;
  • Avoiding the consumption of bushmeat or wild animal meat; and
  • Practicing good personal hygiene and regular handwashing.

Travelers should also monitor themselves for symptoms while in affected countries and for 21 days after leaving. Signs and Symptoms Travelers returning from affected countries should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days after departure from the affected countries.

Symptoms may include:

  • Fever;
  • Severe headache;
  • Muscle pain;
  • Weakness or fatigue;
  • Sore throat;
  • Vomiting or Diarrhoea;
  • Rash; and
  • Unexplained bleeding or bruising.

Anyone who develops symptoms during this monitoring period should immediately self-isolate and contact their nearest health facility or local health authority by telephone for advice. Early notification will help healthcare workers safely assess and manage suspected cases while protecting others from possible exposure. The Ministry is also working closely with partner agencies at international points of entry, including Nadi International Airport, to implement targeted health screening and follow-up measures for travellers who have visited affected countries within 21 days prior to arrival in Fiji. The Ministry will continue to monitor the global situation closely, maintain surveillance for early detection of any cases, and work with World Health Organisation and partner agencies to adapt the national response as necessary.

The Ministry is currently reviewing and monitoring the global situation on the Ebola Disease and is updating necessary prevention, preparedness, response plans and protocols that will be implemented should the need arise. These measures include strengthened surveillance and case identification, review of border health protocols at international points of entry, preparedness for laboratory testing of suspected cases, and review of infection prevention and control and case management protocols. Although the risk to Fiji from this Ebola outbreak remains low, preparedness is a necessary proactive measure. The Ministry is also liaising with relevant agencies to determine whether any Fijian nationals are currently in the affected areas.

These measures are in place after the WHO declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for Ebola Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda last week. The declaration also stated that the outbreak does not meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency, which is the highest level of global alert. As of 22nd May 2026, Uganda has reported two confirmed cases of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) both linked to areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where BVD transmission has been documented. BVD is a rare species of the Ebola Virus. The WHO has assessed the risk as “Very High” for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and “High” for Uganda as of 22 May 2026.

WHO has also noted that the epidemiological situation differs between the two countries in terms of the scale of the outbreak and the context in which response efforts are being implemented. According to WHO reports the Democratic Republic of the Congo had recorded a total of 516 suspected Ebola cases, of which 33 had been laboratory confirmed. In addition, 131 suspected deaths had been reported, including four confirmed deaths.

TAVUA HOSPITAL MORTUARY TO BE RENOVATED

PUBLIC ADVISORY # 31 | 22 May 2026.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services wishes to advise members of the public that the Tavua Hospital mortuary will be closed from Monday 25th May until Friday June 12th, 2026 for renovations.

Therefore, the Ministry urge members of the public to take their deceased loved ones to the Ba Aspen Hospital or other health care facilities with morgue services nearby.

The Ministry apologises for any inconvenience caused during this time.

ENDS