Today, the Ministry of Health reported three new dengue fever (DF) cases with positive rapid test, bringing up the total cases to 65. Meanwhile, ongoing response activities to hot spot and high risk areas are carried out, including collaboration with Tonga Red Cross Society (TRCS) in distributing mosquito nets and DF brochures to affected families, communities and schools.
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Results for Health
Monday 24 February 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Friday 21 February 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Today, the Ministry of Health recorded 48 new dengue fever cases, bringing the total number of cases to 58. The infection is spreading rapidly in Vava'u, which now has 26 cases. The Public Health Emergency Operation Center has been activated.
Wednesday 19 February 2025
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ten cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in Tonga in the last week and are likely to increase, the Minister for Health, Hon. Dr ‘Ana ‘Akau’ola, said this morning. She urged the community to take precautions to eliminate the mosquitos that spread the disease. The cases were found in Tongatapu, Vava'u and 'Eua since 13 February. "The limited supply of chemicals has prevented spraying in schools at this time," she said.
Thursday 13 February 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New medical supplies were donated to the Ministry of Health by the People’s Republic of China in an official handover, at the MOH headquarter in Tofoa this week, on 11 February 2025.
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Thursday 6 February 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
In Tonga, there are at least four cases of stage 3-4 cervical cancer every year. In these stages, patients cannot be treated..."they will die," said Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist, Dr. Ma’ake Tupou. The Ministry of Health is conducting a campaign to protect women from cervical cancer with the HPV vaccine.
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Friday 17 January 2025
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Helping local technicians to develop skills in biomedical engineering, are eight young biomedical engineering students from the University of Canterbury who are spending five weeks in Tonga conducting various trainings with technicians from the Ministry of Health, in Vaiola Hospital.
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Friday 13 December 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A medical team from China carried out a large-scale, 12-day medical assist visit to Vava’u last month, with comprehensive rounds of free clinics, surgeries and health check-up services.
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Thursday 5 December 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over 200 people in Tonga received essential eye care services from a team professional volunteers from New Zealand who worked in Nuku'alofa from 30 September to 4 October. The 'EyesForGood' team was made up of optometry and vision science teaching fellows and a researcher from the University of Auckland, with a clinician at the New Zealand Prosthetic Eye Service.
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Monday 18 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A medical team from China will be delivering free medical services at the Ngū Hospital in Vava’u, starting this week on 20 November, after working for four months on Tongatapu.
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Thursday 14 November 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Diabetes, heart diseases, respiratory diseases and cancer have become common “NCDs” in Tonga, Dr. Viliami Puloka told the first National Non-Communicable Diseases Forum, held in Nuku’alofa this week. NCDs can't be cured. “The best time to look after your health is when you’re healthy,” he said.
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Friday 25 October 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Ten life-saving pacemaker surgeries were performed this week, at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa, by a visiting team of four volunteer medical professionals from New Zealand, through the Pacific Islands Pacemaker Service (PIPS).
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Wednesday 23 October 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Stigma surrounding mental illness in Tonga is the main stumbling block in delivering and improving mental health services here, said Dr Mapa Puloka, who faces many negative or discriminatory attitudes towards mental illness in his work and workplace. In Tonga, stigmatized behaviour towards mental illness includes ridicule (luma‘i), mocking (fakakata‘aki), and neglecting (hanga kehe mei ai).
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Monday 21 October 2024
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Wellington, New Zealand
A research led by the University of Otago, Wellington has found that Tongan-led solutions are needed to overcome barriers to bowel cancer screening, for Tongans living in New Zealand. The bowel screening age was lowered to start at 50 years old for Pacific peoples, which lead researcher Dr. Viliami Puloka, from the University’s Department of Public Health, said is an essential step in increasing the accessibility of the programme.
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Friday 11 October 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
On World Mental Health Day yesterday, Tonga launched a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) program. Ministry of Health CEO, Dr. Reynold 'Ofanoa, said this program is the beginning of a crucial journey to improve mental health and psychosocial support services in Tonga.
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Tuesday 8 October 2024
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A new mammogram machine was commissioned today, 8 October, at Vaiola Hospital, which will detect early signs of breast cancer for women. “Identifying cancer early means that we can treat and cure cancer,” said Medical Superintendent, Dr. 'Ana 'Akau'ola
Tuesday 1 October 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Early detection of breast cancer through self-examination and mammograms will increase the percentage of survivors, Tonga Breast Cancer Society (TBCS) stated in the launching of the breast cancer awareness month today, 1 October, with theme “Early Detection Saves Lives.”
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Wednesday 11 September 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Over 100 runners took part in Tonga Animal Welfare Society (TAWS) Tonga marathon, on Saturday, 7 September, at Niutōua, which helped raise money for TAWS to order medicines for treating fleas in dogs and cats.
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Thursday 5 September 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
The Ngalu Fānifo Regional Project is a Pacific-led project that aims to improve mental health and wellbeing in Tonga and Vanuatu, by strengthening the capacity of health and community providers to provide mental health care. The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) will led the three-year programme, in partnership with Tonga and Vanuatu Ministries of Health, and funded by the Australian Government.
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Tuesday 3 September 2024
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Auckland, New Zealand
A vision aid team from the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Auckland will be visiting Tonga for a week from 30 September to 4 October to provide voluntary eye-care to those who need it the most. The team will be based at the Eye Health Clinic at Vaiola Hospital.
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Tuesday 18 June 2024
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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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