Results for Health

The visit by the Chinese medical ship Ark Peace to Nuku'alofa has shown there is a high demand for medical treatment, with people of all ages filling the ships passageways waiting to see medical practitioners since the ship's arrival on Monday, 13 August. By Eleanor Gee.

The Ark Peace, a Naval Hospital Ship from China, arrived on Monday morning, August 13, at Vuna Wharf on an eight-day humanitarian visit to provide medical services to the people of Tonga.

A new biochemistry analyser that will allow medical tests to be done in Tonga instead of being sent overseas was received at the laboratory in Vaiola Hospital, on Monday August 6.

Student nurses from the University of Sydney and the University of Canberra are undertaking professional placements at Vaiola Hospital and village clinics in Tonga as part of Australia’s New Colombo Plan.

A study into the source and transmission of typhoid fever, which has been increasing in Pacific countries such as Fiji over the past decade, has revealed that poor sanitation is a major source of Salmonella Typhi, the cause of the disease. Professor Crump, who led the study says the research also highlights the serious concern that Oceania has fallen behind both Asia and sub-Saharan Africa to become the region with the lowest coverage of improved drinking water and improved sanitation.

A gift of new medical equipment and materials from Dongguan City in China were handed over to Vaiola Hospital in Nuku'alofa on June 12.

The Minister for Health, Hon Saia Piukala said today that all main roads on Tongatapu have been cleared of debris and were accessible today. He called on people with leaking taps to fix them quickly to preserve the water supply on Tongatapu. He also warned of water-borne diseases such as diarrhea spreading after the cyclone.

As dengue cases increase to 52 on Tongatapu as of this afternoon, 5 February, a medical officer from the Ministry of Health admitted they lack the ability to treat hemorrhagic dengue because they are waiting to replace a broken centrifuge. By Eleanor Gee.

A national campaign to control the spread of dengue started today as the number of people who have caught the disease climbed to 33 as of this afternoon, 1 February. Schools are waiting for funding to start spraying.