Australia's new health services support includes disabled [1]
Thursday, September 22, 2016 - 20:16. Updated on Friday, September 23, 2016 - 09:52.
The Australian Government is providing an additional funding of AUD$3.2 million dollars to support health services in Tonga be more inclusive of people with disabilities, Australia's visiting Minister of International Development and the Pacific, Senator Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, announced today at Vaiola Hospital, Nuku'alofa.
The Minister who is on a three-day visit to Tonga was at the hospital to see the progress and impact of Australia’s bilateral support to the health sector.
The assistance from Australia’s Disability Inclusive Development Funding will support a four-year project that will also pilot a national approach to community-based rehabilitation and increase mental health support.
During a short presentation briefing with the Director of Health Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola and the Acting Minister of Health Hon Tevita Lavemaau, Senator Wells said building an inclusive health system would assist people with disabilities live to their full potential and making sure that in their development efforts that no one is left behind.
“We value our partnership with Tonga and the Government of Tonga.”
She said Australia is also strongly committed to working with the Ministry of Health to improve health care through their Tonga Health Systems Support Program, which is delivering $22.4 million dollars from 2009 to 2020.
NCDs challenges
Tonga’s NCDs situation is the most pressing issue facing the people of Tonga today, particularly diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
She said that Tonga and Australia's joint work in combatting NCDs was achieving good results and obesity risk factors and smoking rates are falling, a notable achievement.
She also congratulated Tonga on the release of its 5-year NCDs Strategy this year and noted Tonga’s community-based NCD nursing model supported by Australia, which has substantially improved screening and patient care and is being looked at for replication across the region.
Despite this good work, the battle against NCDs remains a health, social and economic challenge for both Tonga and the region.
"WHO tells us 98 percent of Tonga’s adult population is at moderate to high risk of developing an NCD."
She said people with disabilities are at an even greater risk of developing NCDs due to increased behavioral risk factors such as lack of physical activity and poor access to health services.
The rise in NCDs will continue to increase NCD disability rate and impact on people’s health resulting in urgent need for rehabilitation and support services for those with disability and mental health. The new funding will assist in this area.
Dr ‘Akau’ola acknowledged the Australian Government’s support to the Tonga health sector, which has been long running.
He said they had seen significant benefits in the health and well-being of the people of Tonga through the partnership with Australia.
He spoke of the challenges posed by NCDs and the programs being implemented to address it.
CEO of Tonga Health Seini Filiai presented on the NCDs National Strategy.
Senator Wells accompanied by the Australian High Commissioner HE Mr Andrew Ford also visited the Diabetes Clinic, Quitline for Smoking and Public Health Renovation and Tonga’s Health Promotion Foundation.