Results for Health

A team of surgeons from Interplast Australia and New Zealand is currently performing general plastic and reconstructive surgical services at Vaiola Hospital. The team has returned after three years of border closures.

A team from Interplast Australia and New Zealand returns to Tonga from 25 May to 3 June to carry out general plastic and reconstructive surgical services and training, at Vaiola Hospital. This after three years of absence due to COVID-19 restrictions.

An additional AUD10 million was committed by the Government of Australia to further improve health outcomes for people in Tonga, with the signing of the Tonga Health Systems Support Program Phase 3 on 15 May. 

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.

Ten patients in Tonga have received new pacemakers, in surgeries carried out by a a team of cardiac experts from New Zealand last week at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku'alofa. The first time this has been done in Tonga.

Tonga’s first Guideline for Healthy Living and national campaign was launched on 13 April in an effort to tackle the health problems arising out of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which remain the leading cause of deaths with around 70% of deaths annually in Tonga connected to NCDs. MAFF Minister, Lord Fohe, urged Tongans to eat healthier food. He believed it was not impossible to change our lifestyle for a healthier Tonga.

Tonga has lifted the requirement to have COVID-19 vaccination proof for all foreign travellers arriving in the country. Instead, the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affair’s Immigration Division will incorporate key surveillance data requirements into one arrival card for passengers to complete on arrival in Tonga.

Three children have died from viral pneumonia caused by an Influenza B outbreak in Tonga over the last 8-9 weeks, the Ministry of Health has confirmed. About 180 cases a week have been reported but this is likely to be an under-estimation of the number of cases in the community, said Dr Siale 'Akau'ola.

Tonga recorded a weekly total of 45 COVID-19 positive cases, the Ministry of Health reported on 3 February. More than 1,000 surveillance tests are being held weekly.