The Australian Government has committed AUD$7 million dollars for three years funding of a new Health Systems Support Program with Tonga's Ministry of Health, focussing on key priority health areas such as reducing the prevalence of non communicable diseases in the country and will help to improve community health care.

Marking the start of the program this year, the signing of a Health Systems Support Program Subsidiary Arrangement on March 4 was held at the Janfull International Hotel between the Australian High Commissioner in Tonga HE Dr Bruce Hunt, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Hon Dr Viliami Tangi, and the Minister of Finance Hon 'Afu'alo Matoto.

Dr Hunt said the new program of support gives the Ministry of Health access to AUD$7 million over three years to allocate to its priorities and to meet targets.

Target areas include reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases; increasing the allocation to preventative health; and improving community health care.

Hon Dr Viliami Tangi expressed the Tongan Government's gratitude to Australia for its assistance to health. He said health had always been a priority area for government and this was reflected in the Ministry of Health's increasing budget allocated by government over the years.

He said his staff are fully committed to this program and most importantly that the services are provided to the people. He pointed out one of the priority health areas is reducing non-communicable diseases.

Partnership

The signing of the arrangement is a result of a Tonga Australia Partnership for Development signed between Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Tongan Prime Minister Dr Feleti Sevele at the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns in August 2009.

The partnership committed Australia and Tonga to four priority outcomes, being: a more efficient public sector, improved health; improved technical and vocational skills; and infrastructure to improve the daily lives of people.