A psychiatric nurse died in hospital on Sunday from serious injuries sustained in the psychiatric unit at the Hu'atolitoli Prison. The deceased, Samiuela Mafi, a psychiatric nurse at Vaiola Hospital, was allegedly attacked by a patient on 8 June. In a statement last week, HM Prisons said they lacked the strength to support and guard the unit. Earlier, in March, Tonga's Head Psychiatrist warned that because Tonga had never established a drugs rehabilitation centre the extra workload on the psychiatric ward was beyond the reach of the public health and voluntary services available. By Matangi Tonga reporters.
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Results for Health
Tuesday 18 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Thursday 13 June 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Tonga Red Cross Society (TRCS) and Ministry of Health will host a blood drive at the Digicel Square in Nuku'alofa CBD, tomorrow, Friday, at 10.00am to mark World Blood Donor Day and encourage voluntary donation of blood. "We want a diverse group of donors to join us, ensuring a reliable blood supply for everyone who needs it," stated TRCS.
Monday 10 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Secondary schools in Tongatapu marked the World Food Safety Day 2024 with the theme ‘Food Safety - Prepare for the unexpected', through a Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry programme, that raised awareness of the importance of food safety.
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Thursday 30 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new survey on lymphatic filariasis (kulokula fua) is being conducted in Tonga to follow-up on tests made in the last survey in 2015. The Ministry of Health is collaborating with experts from the University of Queensland (UQ), in investigating lymphatic filariasis by blood testing at schools in Kolomotu'a, Veitongo, Tatakamotonga, Vaotu'u, Utulau, and Sia'atoutai.
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Wednesday 29 May 2024
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Geneva, Switzerland
The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials − especially antibiotics − in humans, animals and plants are driving the rise of drug-resistant infections. This makes common infections harder to treat and medical procedures and treatments, such as surgery and chemotherapy, much riskier.
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Wednesday 22 May 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Ministry of Health celebrated 30 years of working together with the St John of God Ballarat Hospital, a milestone for their Twinning Program, that has contributed a lot to the Health Ministry in Tonga.
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Tuesday 14 May 2024
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Tokomololo, Tonga
A team of New Zealand vets (SPAW) are back in Tonga for the first time this year, to conduct their free veterinary treatments and surgeries on local pets and animals at the Tokomololo Veterinary Clinic.
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Wednesday 3 April 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ahead of World Health Day on 7 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of S.A.R.A.H., a digital health promoter avatar, powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help answer health questions online. Sarah has the ability to support people in developing a better understanding of risk factors for some of the leading causes of death in the world, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes.
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Friday 22 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The unmanaged drugs issue in Tonga is becoming “a new normal”, says Tonga's Head Psychiatrist, Dr. Mapa Puloka, who is seeing illicit drug-related disorders making up 40% of monthly admissions to the psychiatric ward. With mental health impacts skyrocketing, there is no one available to pick up the pieces. From the frontline, both Mapa and the Salvation Army counselor Mele Prescott are lonely voices urging government to establish a drugs rehabilitation center in Tonga, as they see families and communities being broken by the mental health impacts of illicit drugs use. Interview by Katalina Siasau.
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Sunday 17 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Vaiola Hospital wastewater and sewerage system will be upgraded with the help of the Australian government - providing $2 million (AUD) to support the project.
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Saturday 2 March 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga ranked number one worldwide as the country with the most women with obesity, according to a study released by the well-known medical journal, the Lancet. Nine out of the top ten countries with the most women with obesity in the world, are Pacific island countries. Some 81.5% of Tongan women over the age of 20 are living with obesity, an increase of 23.3% from 1990.
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Wednesday 28 February 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A grant from Tonga Health will support the Ministry of Police's Crime Prevention Group to visit schools and communities to talk to young people and community leaders on the harm relating to excessive alcohol drinking.
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Monday 12 February 2024
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Victoria, Australia
Two medical officers from Vaiola Hospital are receiving 11 weeks of pathology workforce training, in the pathology laboratory at University Hospital Geelong, Australia, hosted by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA).
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Wednesday 7 February 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new Pharmaceutical and Medical Facility built with New Zealand aid, was officially opened this afternoon by Crown Prince Tupouto'a, with visiting New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister the Rt. Hon Winston Peters and NZ Minister of Health Hon. Shane Reti at Loto-Tonga, Veitongo.
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Thursday 1 February 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Hon. Dr Siale ‘Akau‘ola was officially appointed as Tonga's new Minister of Health yesterday afternoon, 31 January 2024 at a Ministerial Appointment, held at his home in Pahu, Nuku’alofa.
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Thursday 25 January 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala has been appointed as the World Health Organization Regional Director for the Western Pacific, taking his oath of office yesterday, 23 January, during the 154th session of the WHO Executive Board at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
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Thursday 28 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Cash assistance of $160,000 pa’anga was donated by the Vaiola Hospital Board of Visitors Charity for distribution to about 400 Vaiola Hospital staff who are working during the current holiday season.
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Tuesday 26 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Three community-based aged care centers will be built in Tongatapu with one in Vava'u, under a new USD $16.18 million project signed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Tonga Integrated Aged Care Project will help provide safe, high-quality integrated health and care services for older people and their caregivers.
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Thursday 21 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Vaiola Hospital Matron, Sr Akesa Halatanu, will meet again with the Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Saia Piukala, today, to look at a nurses petition that was submitted to the Palace Office yesterday, in a protest to increase the nurses salary.
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Wednesday 20 December 2023
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A group of Vaiola nurses led by Matron Akesa Halatanu, protested at the Royal Palace Office this morning where they presented a petition to increase their salary. This afternoon, the Minister of Health Hon. Dr Saia Piukala, told a media briefing that he was not aware of they had gone to the Palace, and that it took him by a surprise, after he and the CEO had met with the nurses yesterday about their concerns.
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Tonga weather forecast from yr.no, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and the NRK. See also Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Center, Tonga, for latest local weather bulletin.