Results for Health

A 2014 World Health Organisation (WHO) report on binge drinking has stated that 12% of Tongan males over the age of 15 years are “heavy episodic drinkers” (binge drinkers).

Health Ministers from 53 Commonwealth countries have gathered for a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss strengthening public health systems.

The Tonga Red Cross Society celebrated Red Cross Day yesterday Thursday, 8 May at its national headquarters in Nuku’alofa.

Tongan secondary students were warned of drug dealers and the effects of drug use at a lecture held at the Kalofiama 'O Epworth Hall on Friday March 28, in Nuku’alofa.

Twenty Tongan nurses, who are the first to be trained in Non-Communicable Diseases, graduated last week and will be on the frontline of treating NCDs, which have accounted for 74 percent of all deaths in Tonga in 2008.

A new report states that Tonga is the fourth most over-weight country in the world, and that Non-Communicable Diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neoplasms and diabetes are a leading cause of adult death, while data showed that 36 percent of Tongan boys and 54 percent of Tongan girls were over-weight or obese. Death rates in the most productive age groups are three times higher than in Australia and New Zealand

The Kolovai Health Centre on the western district of Tongatapu has re-opened its doors on October 4 after being refurbished with over $20,000 pa’anga by the Australian Government, supporting the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, which are reaching epidemic levels in Tonga.

Tonga's government has imposed new Duties on unhealthy foods along with higher Excise Tax Rates on tobacco products, and slashed tobacco concessions for arriving passengers by half, in an effort to encourage “healthy living”.

A Tongan social services provider, the Ma‘a Fafine mo e Famili, has won funding support to continue its caregiving to the elderly and disabled children for another year.