Fiji Sun

Health Care Funding Disbursed in Favor of Urban Centers: Dr Fong

- MERELEKI NAI LAUTOKA Feedback: com.fj mereleki.nai@fijisun.

Funding for healthcare is often unfairly distribute­d in favor of urban centers.

Dr James Fong emphasised this during the 2nd Biennial Pacific Paediatric Associatio­n (PPA) Conference at the Novotel Hotel in Nadi yesterday.

The conference, with the theme of ‘Building Child Health Capacity in the region,’ followed a three-day regional Child Protection Training aimed at upskilling the local and regional workforce.

Dr Fong, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services said having a well-trained and skilled workforce was vital to any health system worldwide.

He noted that Fiji and the Pacific face similar developmen­t challenges, including political leadership and regionalis­m, peace and security, economic developmen­t, climate change, natural disasters, oceans and the environmen­t, technology, and connectivi­ty.

Additional­ly, he pointed out that funding for healthcare was often disbursed inequitabl­y in favor of urban centers, and legal frameworks have discrimina­tory provisions concerning child protection and child justice.

Despite a decrease in child mortality rates since 1990, Dr Fong said the region has not met internatio­nal developmen­t targets.

“The Pacific sub-region is home to 1.2 million children under 15 years, in 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean,” he said.

The sub-region comprises 21 Pacific island nations.

Dr Frances Katonivual­iku, a Health and Nutrition specialist, stressed the need to strengthen health coverage by focusing on the healthcare framework and the healthy island vision.

She highlighte­d the importance of having quality primary healthcare service delivery points to ensure that the community can trust the service and seek healthcare services at these points.

 ?? Mereleki Nai ?? From left: Ministry of Health and Medical Services Head of Research & Innovation Dr Eric Rafai and Health and Nutrition Specialist, Dr Frances Katonivual­iku with participan­ts during the 2nd Biennial Pacific Paediatric Associatio­n (PPA) Conference at Novotel Hotel in Nadi. Photo:
Mereleki Nai From left: Ministry of Health and Medical Services Head of Research & Innovation Dr Eric Rafai and Health and Nutrition Specialist, Dr Frances Katonivual­iku with participan­ts during the 2nd Biennial Pacific Paediatric Associatio­n (PPA) Conference at Novotel Hotel in Nadi. Photo:

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