World Health Day

As the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted, some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others - entirely due to the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age.

Since March 2020, the Ministry’s main priority has been to prepare for and respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ministry’s efforts have been successful with the support of health development partners including the Australian Government through the Vanuatu Health Program (VHP), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.

RNZI reports the focus of World Health Day this year is Beat Diabetes with emphasis on scaling up prevention, strengthening care and enhancing surveillance.

The Director-General of the Pacific Community Colin Tukuitonga said diabetes rates in the region continue to climb at an alarming rate and a multi-dimensional approach is needed if there is to be any hope of slowing let alone stopping the trend.