Results for Pacific Islands

Widespread coverage by Pacific immunisation programmes is a significant reason why deaths to children under the age of five have dramatically declined in the Pacific countries and territories. But there are still too many children who are not fully vaccinated and not only are they at risk, but they tend to be in groups who are susceptible to an outbreak, warns Dr Karen Allen, the Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund in the Pacific, at the start of World Immunisation Week, today.

The University of Sydney will be hosting a five day Pacific Studies conference from 22-26 April, 2014 that will look at action and adaption to climate change, and Australia’s role in the Pacific, among other topics. Senior Curator of Sydney University’s Macleay Museum and Conference Co-Convenor Jude Philp said the conference is an important way to draw attention to the need in Australia for more knowledge about the Pacific region.

Fiji is a lap ahead of Tonga when it comes to export initiative. A Fijian business was able to successfully secure an export of 13 tonnes of frozen vegetables, fruits, root crops and fish for the United States last week.

The Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is urging Pacific Island countries to produce more locally grown non-processed foods instead of relying on unhealthy imported processed foods.

A ten year partnership agreement has been signed between the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Australian Government.

A Pacific Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency is expected to start its operations later this year.

Ahead of a high level meeting with Australian aid donors, the SPC's new Director General, Dr Colin Tukuitonga has questioned the benefits of the “crowded development space” in the Pacific Region, while promoting the role of the South Pacific Commission, which he says is well-placed to respond to the diverse needs.

The European Commission last week has announced that free-visa travel will soon be granted for nationals from 19 third-world countries, including ten Pacific Island countries.

New Zealand will contribute $13.89 million (NZD) in funding to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) from 2014 to 2016.