Results for Health

Tonga's National Health Information System remains locked by hackers who hijacked the system nine days ago on 15 June. Medical staff cannot access the system, while the hackers are demanding a ransom from the Tonga Government. The Minister of Health said today that their inability to access recent medical history of patients is a concern but because Tonga is small the doctors know their chronic patients and can continue giving treatments.

A Blood Drive was held at the Tonga Red Cross Society headquarter today, 13 June 2025, where volunteers gathered to donate blood. The event highlighted the importance of donating blood and saving lives.

The Tonga Red Cross Society is calling on the public to donate blood this Friday, 13 June, during a Blood Drive held at its headquarters in Nuku’alofa, from 10:00am to 2:00pm. This year’s theme for World Blood Donor Day is: “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives”.

Three newly renovated and highly upgraded operating theatres for Vaiola Hospital were commissioned today, 19 May, in Nuku'alofa. This project, which will will ensure improved surgical outcomes for the Tongan community, was financially supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in partnership with the Plymouth Brethren Church, the Rotary Club, and the Ministry of Health.

The latest SitRep indicates 15 new dengue fever cases confirmed through rapid tests, bringing the total cumulative number of cases to 697. The Ministry of Health has sent more blood specimen to the VDRL laboratory in Australia for serotyping.

A third death from Dengue Fever in Tonga was reported by the Ministry of Health today. An eight year old boy from Tongatapu is the latest victim of the virus that is spread by mosquitoes. All District Officers on Tongatapu were called to a meeting of the Ministry of Health today. From next week onwards they will start village inspections and a cleanup campaign targeting mosquito breeding sites. Most cases came from Ma'ufanga – including Houmakelikao, Popua, and Fangaloto. If the situation worsens the Minister of Health will declare this an emergency and mass gatherings may be restricted.

Six new Dengue Fever cases were reported in Tonga today, bringing the total to 588 cases confirmed with positive rapid tests since mid-February. The Health Ministry is urging everyone to remain vigilant, emphasising that "Dengue is not over yet." Two deaths last week were attributed to Dengue.

The dengue outbreak in Tonga has exceeded 500 cases recorded, with eight new cases of dengue fever reported with positive rapid tests today, bringing the total cumulative number of cases to 520. Eight cases are in a stable condition in hospital.

A medivac flight on Sunday airlifted a critically ill teenager from Niuatoputapu to Tongatapu for emergency treatment at Vaiola Hospital yesterday, 30 March 2025, after the Niuatoputapu health service was running out of oxygen.