Health achieves a milestone

The Fijian Ministry of Health achieved a significant milestone last week by holding its first national conference at the community level. This initiative reflects the Ministry's emphasis on primary healthcare and its desire to better understand the needs of the people through direct interaction with communities.

The second National Health Executive Committee meeting was held in Naveicovatu Village, Naloto Village, in the Tailevu Province. This meeting brought together medical leaders and senior administrators from across Fiji to jointly discuss national health policies and development directions.

While speaking to the Fiji Times, Minister for Health Dr. Antonio Lalabalavu stated that the villagers of Naveicovatu Village are very proud of this event. This small village of only 10 households has produced three doctors, two nurses, and two laboratory technicians, all of whom have contributed to primary healthcare in Fiji. Dr. Lalabalavu emphasized: "The first doctor in the Wainibuka area came from this village, as well as nurses and lab technicians – they have set a milestone."

Dr. Lalabalavu further stated that he hopes the unveiled memorial stone will inspire the children of Wainibuka to study hard, contribute to improving local health conditions, and join the Ministry of Health. He explained that the main purpose of bringing the meeting to the community is to raise community awareness and emphasize that decision-makers should not make decisions in isolation, but should consult with the community and listen to their opinions. At the same time, this is also an opportunity to bring medical services to the community as much as possible, allowing multiple tasks to be completed at once.

The Ministry of Health has been planning this initiative for some time, but for various reasons, meetings are usually held in hotels. Now, the Ministry of Health has finally brought the meeting to the community and expressed its gratitude. Dr. Lalabalavu stated that this meeting is not only an opportunity to discuss policies, but also an opportunity for the Ministry of Health to provide medical services to Wainibuka, and to jointly explore how to improve medical services in these areas through meetings, outreach services, and dialogue with the community.