Groundbreaking Ceremony kicks off the building of the Centre for Eye Health in Papua New Guinea

Representatives from the Governments of Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia, and other dignitaries gathered on Thursday 7 November for a Groundbreaking Ceremony to celebrate and kick off the building of the

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Public health crisis, Indicators hit all-time low, need urgent attention: PNG Doctor

Papua New Guinea’s public health is at an “all-time low” and requires immediate and serious attention, according to a senior health

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Urgent action needed to reduce Kiribati’s mortality rates: Nunn

A development specialist says there is an urgent need for action to reduce mortality rates for children under five in

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‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu receives HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein award

Amelia Latu Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu, PhD, RN, Chief Nursing Officer of the World Health Organisation (WHO), has received the HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein

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$25.9million donation to advance cervical cancer elimination in the Pacific

The funds will allow Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney to screen thousands of women in seven Pacific countries for cervical

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WHO says Western Pacific to miss UN goal to cut early deaths from lifestyle diseases

Western Pacific nations are unlikely to meet the United Nations target of reducing premature deaths from lifestyle-related diseases, says the World Health

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Medicinal cannabis now permitted in Cook Islands with prescription

Islanders and visitors can now bring in medicinal cannabis into the Cook Islands from New Zealand and Australia provided they meet certain requirements, says Te Marae Ora (TMO), Ministry for Health. Minister for Health

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Opinion: Silent epidemic: The devastating impact of drugs on Fiji’s health and wellbeing

Fiji faces a critical mental health crisis, with rising drug abuse cases being one of several contributing factors. Social and economic challenges, along with limited access to mental health services, are also believed

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65 more dengue cases in Samoa

Samoa’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has raised alarm bells with the announcement of 65 cases of dengue-like illness in its recent surveillance report for the period spanning from 29 April to 5 May.  Despite the

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Travellers urged to prevent dengue fever in Samoa

Samoa’s Ministry of Health has urged travellers entering Samoa to take precautionary measures during the duration of their stay due to reports of a dengue fever outbreak. The Ministry had declared a dengue fever

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Cook Islanders invited to discuss Health Bill, medicinal cannabis access 

Cook Islands Health Secretary Bob Williams says it is important for the public to know and understand the Public Health Bill, set for public discussions starting today.  A series of public consultations on the

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Dealing with dengue: Pacific looks to new tools

Climate change and increased urbanisation are driving an increase in dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases and the Pacific is responding with a suite of new interventions and tactics. The World Health Organization

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Pacific obesity rates continue to concern

Pacific Island nations have the highest rates of obesity in the world, a new study has revealed. The study from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a worldwide network of over 1500 researchers and

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Samoa declares a dengue fever outbreak

After a total of 216 confirmed cases of dengue fever since November last year, the Ministry of Health, Thursday, declared a dengue fever outbreak in Samoa. Director General of Health Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma said the

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Samoa on the brink of declaring a dengue outbreak

Samoa is on the brink of declaring a dengue fever outbreak should the latest situational report from health expected by the end of the week show a continuous increase in the disease. The Director General of Health,

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Strengthen health systems, says WHO Regional Director Dr Piukala

Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, has told the Pacific Heads of Health Meeting currently underway in Samoa that climate change and health security are

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Samoan broadcaster and social advocate Tofilau Yolande Ah Chong dies

Samoan broadcaster, TV personality and MC Tofilau Yolande Ah Chong is being remembered as a vibrant voice in the Pacific community. Tofilau died last week after a long battle with cancer. She was laid to rest yesterday

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Pacific Islands eye medicinal cannabis cultivation

But social concerns remain Pacific governments are grappling with balancing the potential economic benefits of legalising medicinal cannabis cultivation with social concerns, as they eye the potentially lucrative new

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ANT Bicycles Tonga: The first bicycle rental shop in the Kingdom

Visitors to Tonga have a new way of exploring Tongatapu thanks to Alamoni and Taniela Takeifanga. They are the proud owners of ANT Bicycles Tonga, the first family-owned bicycle rental business in the heart of

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WHO watches for new covid variants

Three years since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been more than 774 million confirmed cases and more than seven million reported deaths globally, according to recent statistics by the World Health

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Complaints mount at PNG ‘care centers’ for volcano displaced

Several thousand people remain in limbo three months after the eruption of Papua New Guinea’s Mt Ulawun, living at muddy camps euphemistically named “care centres” by authorities, and increasingly unhappy about

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Dr Piukala appointed WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific

The World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board today confirmed the appointment of Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala of Tonga as WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. Following his

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Opinion: Health service coverage: Asia and the Pacific swap places

According to the World Health Organization, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires that all people receive the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services they need and can afford.

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