Fiji Budget 2023-2024: A wrap
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, today presented a deficit budget in Fiji’s parliament. With a projected revenue of $3.7 billion, and expenditure of $4.3 billion, the
Health
Fiji Budget: ‘It’s a tough but fair budget’ says Finance Minister
Presenting government’s Fiji Budget 2023-2024 to parliament this morning, Finance Minister Biman Prasad said the fiscal deficit of $639 million dollars was “higher than I personally wanted.” Prasad said
Fiji budget: Education, health get budget boosts
The Fiji government budget 2023-2024 presented today has prioritised spending on education and health. Education The education sector has been allocated $768.9 million with $505.4 million to the Ministry of
$8M to support Kiribati’s drought relief efforts
An $8 million grant has been disbursed by the Asian Development Bank to the Government of Kiribati to help fund drought relief efforts. ADB says the support comes after a state of emergency was declared last month in
Overseas medical cost a concern: Samoa PM Fiame
Samoa’s Government remains concerned about the affordability of overseas treatment for non-communicable diseases, says Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. The Prime Minister made the comments when she
Pay our nurses, says Fiji Women’s Rights Movement
The Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) has called on Fiji’s Government to place more emphasis on the appropriate allowances and pay for nurses and midwives. For several years, nurses and midwives in Fiji
Severe shortage of PNG health workers
An acute shortage of health professionals in hospitals around Papua New Guinea has prompted the Special Parliamentary Committee on Health Matters to propose an amendment to a law that prevents public servants who
Malaria: fight half done
When the Global Fund was created 20 years ago, HIV, TB and malaria seemed unbeatable. But we have proven that with science, adequate resources and effective global collaboration, we can force even the deadliest diseases
Solomon Islands lift COVID-19 entry requirements in lead up to Pacific Games
The Solomon Islands, due to host the Pacific Games from 19 November to 2 December, has lifted all COVID-19 entry requirements. Those arriving will no longer need to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or tests,
‘Have courage’: Tokelau records its first four community COVID-19 cases
Tokelau remains in lockdown following the announcement of its first Covid-19 community cases. “We knew that it would eventually get to Tokelau, so we prepared,” Tokelau Government General Manager Aukusitino
Tokelau: first COVID community case, lockdown imposed
Tokelau has confirmed its first community case of Covid-19 and a lockdown has been imposed. A spokesperson for the government has confirmed to RNZ Pacific the small nation of three atolls announced the first-ever case
Vaccinations low in PNG: UN
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says there has been a decline in children’s immunisation in Papua New Guinea over the last two years. UNICEF PNG representative Dr Claudes Kamenga reported this during the
WHO chief declares end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency
The head of the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared “with great hope” an end to COVID-19 as a public health emergency, stressing that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat. “Last
Samoa Health Director confident no repeat of 2019 measles epidemic
The Director General of Health, Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma is confident that Samoa will not see a repetition of the measles crisis of 2019. The Ministry has put in place stringent travel requirements as neighbouring American
The Pacific’s nursing crisis
'An unprecedented shortage' Pacific Heads of Health have heard that the shortage of skilled nurses in the region is “unprecedented and poses a threat to the stability, accessibility and quality of essential care
Improving Pacific Islanders health in NZ and the region
The University of Auckland has opened the first-of-its-kind research centre dedicated to Pasifika health, the Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa (Centre for Pacific and Global Health). Centre Co-Director, Dr Roannie Ng Shiu is a
Influenza B Flu outbreak closes schools in Samoa
Schools in Samoa have been closed for a further week as more than two thousand cases of the Influenza B flu have been recorded affecting mainly children. The public notice was issued Thursday by the Director of
Restrictions on American Samoa in Samoa
American Samoans have to comply with the strict health guidelines set by the Government of Samoa when entering the country as the nation tries to prevent measles from coming in. The neighbouring country has confirmed
Measles outbreak in American Samoa
American Samoa has issued a public health emergency after an outbreak of measles has spread across the U.S. territory. As of Tuesday, there has been one laboratory-confirmed case among an 8-year-old and 31 suspected
Contaminated cough syrup made in India found in Western Pacific: WHO
Contaminated cough syrup made by an Indian company has been found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday, after a spate of child deaths linked to similar syrups in
PNG Doctor warns about serious impacts of meth use
The use of methamphetamines is a serious issue and has the potential to catastrophically impact Papua New Guinea society if not addressed, a doctor says. Registrar for emergency medicine at Port Moresby General Hospital
Sacked health chief hits ‘blatant corruption’ in Marshall Islands
Jack Niedenthal, who was recently “fired” as health secretary of the Marshall Islands, blasted the national government for turning a blind eye to the “blatant corruption” involving “greedy
Drugs issue to pose escalated burden on PNG clinical services
A ticking time bomb waiting to explode awaits Papua New Guinea, according to practitioners in the Emergency Department of the Port Moresby General Hospital who reported seeing two cases with extreme psychosis in matters
