The fifteenth Pacific Health Ministers Meeting (PHMM) opened today, Nuku'alofa, and will run from the 20-22 September.
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Results for WHO
Wednesday 20 September 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Tuesday 30 May 2023
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Geneva, Switzerland
Tonga was represented by the Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Saia Piukala at the 76th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland from 21-30 May.

Nuku'alofa, Tonga
This month the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 as no longer a public health emergency of international concern and countries will now transition from emergency mode to managing Covid-19 alongside other infectious diseases. Tonga achieved high vaccination coverage during the pandemic and achieved a low death rate due to Covid-19.

Saturday 17 December 2022
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Geneva, Switzerland
Tonga’s first female Health Minister, Dr. ‘Amelia Tu’ipulotu has been appointed as the new Chief Nursing Officer for the World Health Organisation headquartered is in Geneva.

Friday 9 December 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Alcohol misuse has contributed to several road deaths in Tonga. Now, new alcohol breathalyzer devices presented to Tonga Police in December will help frontline officers to detect and remove more drunk drivers and maintain safety on roads.

Thursday 8 December 2022
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new pre-built laboratory to test COVID-19, opened at Vaiola Hospital, on 7 December, will also have the capacity to detect priority pathogens such as influenza and dengue.

Friday 16 July 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Essential medical equipment for COVID-19 will be distributed to 11 Pacific Islands from the government of the United Kingdom and World Health Organization.

Tuesday 18 May 2021
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New York, USA
New York Times reporting: The United States will send 20 million coronavirus vaccine doses in June to countries struggling against the pandemic, answering calls that the Biden administration isn’t doing enough to help countries that face dire shortages of vaccines and other treatments. This was after WHO director general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for well-supplied nations to supply harder-hit countries, and for vaccine developers and manufacturers to hasten delivery of hundreds of millions of doses to COVAX.

Thursday 13 May 2021
Geneva, Switzerland
With people everywhere struggling to preserve their livelihoods under the constant threat of the coronavirus, it has become clear that this pandemic is more than a health emergency. It has become a global whole-of-society crisis. In this context, one of our greatest fears is that after decades of improvement, future generations’ prospects have suddenly plummeted. Some regions are experiencing a reversal of gains achieved in the past 20 years. It will be many months – even years – before vaccines against current and future variants of the virus are accessible to everyone. By Palitha Abeykoon, Maha El Rabbat, David Nabarro
Wednesday 5 May 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hand Hygiene Day, 5 May, is more important than ever, to help sustain the promotion of hand washing. “Clean your hands! This action, that takes just a few seconds, does save lives!” stresses the World Healh Organisation today.

Wednesday 31 March 2021
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Brussels, Belgium
New York Times reporting: Citing what they call “the biggest challenge to the global community since the 1940s,” the leaders of more than two dozen countries, the European Union and the World Health Organization on Tuesday floated an international treaty to protect the world from pandemics. The current pandemic is “a stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe,” the leaders write. The suggested treaty is an acknowledgment that the current system of international health institutions, symbolized by the relatively powerless WHO, a U.N. agency, is inadequate to the problem.

Thursday 18 March 2021
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The arrival of the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines to Tonga from COVAX "is tentative for next month as per current plans", confirmed Ministry of Health Acting CEO, Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa today.

Tuesday 16 February 2021
New York, USA
New York Times reporting: The World Health Organization on Monday authorized the use of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, clearing a path for the cheap and easy-to-store shots to be distributed in lower- and middle-income countries around the world.
Friday 12 February 2021
Suva, Fiji
We know many people are asking when vaccines will be available in Pacific countries. We anticipate that in 2021, demand will vastly exceed supply. But this doesn’t mean we should just sit and wait. PICs now need to focus on preparing, so they are ready when the first vaccines do arrive. This includes starting pre-registration for priority groups. It means making sure the systems are in place and working, for delivering vaccines and monitoring their safety and effectiveness. This requires investments to strengthen health systems, which will bring benefits beyond COVID-19. By Dr Takeshi Kasai.
Thursday 11 February 2021
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Geneva, Switzerland
An equitable supply of vaccines is missing. Of the 128 million vaccine doses administered so far, more than three quarters of those vaccinations are in just 10 countries that account for 60 per cent of global GDP, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus, said in a joint statement yesterday. “As of today, almost 130 countries, with 2.5 billion people, are yet to administer a single dose.”

Wednesday 9 December 2020
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Geneva, Switzerland
A new one-year global campaign was launched today by the World Health Organisation to support at least 100 million people as they try to give up tobacco through communities of quitters.

Tuesday 1 December 2020
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Geneva, Switzerland
Last week saw the first decline in newly-reported cases globally since September, said World Health Organisation Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on 30 November, while warning that gains can easily be lost. He cautioned holiday makers that being with family and friends “is not worth putting them or yourself at risk”.

Thursday 10 September 2020
Geneva, Switzerland
The World Health Organization is urging countries to eliminate industrially produced trans-fat (TFA), from the global food supply by 2023, due to its link to heart disease and death. In Tonga, 1.71 % of coronary heart disease deaths is due to trans-fat intake. Trans-fats raise our bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Examples of foods that may contain trans-fat include doughnuts, cookies, crackers, muffins, pies and cakes.
Wednesday 26 August 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga has provided an Expression of Interest to join COVAX to access CoViD-19 vaccines confirmed the Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola. It will give early access to vaccinations for the most vulnerable people in member countries populations.

Thursday 23 July 2020
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Geneva, Switzerland
A new song featuring the Tongan Nurses Choir and other singing nurses from around the world, was released by the International Council of Nurses (ICN) on 22 July, with the hope that it will become the anthem for nurses globally.
