Family Health Unit - MHMS

27/10/2026

The three-day Western Division Health Sector Response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Training, held at Nasau Resort last week, successfully strengthened the capacity of frontline health workers to provide standardised, survivor-centred care to individuals affected by GBV. Guided by Fiji’s national GBV response guidelines, the training focused on enhancing participants’ knowledge and practical skills in immediate medical management, forensic evidence collection, and the establishment of effective multi-sectoral referral pathways involving law enforcement agencies and legal aid services.

This initiative represents a significant step towards strengthening the health sector’s response to GBV and ensuring that health facilities across the Western Division are better equipped to provide timely, appropriate, confidential, and compassionate support to survivors. It also reinforces the commitment to moving beyond basic GBV awareness towards building GBV service-ready health facilities that uphold the safety, dignity, and rights of every survivor.

27/10/2026

Empowering youth through peer education is vital to strengthening community health and well-being. Recently, passionate youth advocates and community health champions came together for the Life Skills Training Training-of-Trainers (ToT) for Peer Educators under the Family Health program.

This intensive capacity-building initiative focuses on equipping peer educators with essential life skills, effective facilitation tools, and comprehensive health education strategies. By fostering young leadership, we are ensuring that accurate reproductive, adolescent, and family health education reaches communities at the grassroots level.

Thank you to all our dedicated trainers, participants, and partners for driving youth-led health advocacy forward!

27/10/2026

Empowering frontline healthcare workers and safeguarding maternal and child health!

We are thrilled to share highlights from the recent MCH/FH Handbook Writing & Review Retreat held from October 27–29, 2026, at The Pearl Resort. Bringing together a dedicated multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, pediatricians, senior midwives, and key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), UNFPA, UNICEF, and JICA, this workshop focused on critically reviewing and updating the Antenatal Care (ANC) Folders and Family Health Booklets.

By streamlining clinical content, eliminating obsolete data fields, and aligning our tools with the latest evidence-based national policies, we are reducing administrative burdens on healthcare professionals and ensuring optimal continuity of care for mothers and children across our communities.

A big thank you to all our clinical experts and partners for your commitment to shaping the future of maternal and child health!

25/10/2026

The National Paediatric Haemato-Oncology Policy is an important milestone in strengthening child health services in Fiji, particularly in the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and ongoing management of children with blood disorders and childhood cancers. These conditions require timely diagnosis, specialized clinical care, coordinated referral pathways, and continuous support for affected children and their families.

The development of this policy reflects the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ commitment to improving the quality, safety, accessibility, and coordination of paediatric haemato-oncology services across the country. It provides a national framework to guide healthcare professionals and relevant stakeholders in delivering standardized, evidence-based, and child-centered care, while strengthening collaboration between healthcare facilities and specialized services.

The official launch of the National Paediatric Haemato-Oncology Policy will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of childhood cancers and blood disorders, reinforce the roles and responsibilities of healthcare providers, and demonstrate the Ministry’s commitment to improving health outcomes and quality of life for children affected by these conditions. It also highlights the importance of early recognition, timely referral, family-centered support, and equitable access to appropriate care, regardless of a child's location or socioeconomic circumstances.

Fiji has previously recognized the importance of a national approach to childhood cancer care, including the launch of its National Paediatric Oncology Policy in 2017. The current launching of the National Paediatric Haemato-Oncology Policy therefore represents an opportunity to build on these efforts and further strengthen services for children with cancer and blood disorders.

23/10/2026

Did you know? Many cancer risks are preventable.

Recent global studies across 185 countries and 36 cancer types show that 30 key preventable risk factors are driving cancer cases worldwide.

In Fiji, protecting our families starts with knowing the risks and taking proactive steps together. The main preventable drivers include:

🚬 To***co & Smoking: Avoiding to***co and second-hand smoke dramatically reduces risk.

🍷 Alcohol Consumption: Limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption helps safeguard your health.

🦠 Infections: Vaccines (such as HPV and Hepatitis B) and early treatment protect against cancer-causing infections.

🌫️ Air Pollution & Environmental Hazards: Reducing exposure to smoke, burning waste, and chemical pollutants.

What can you do today?
* Get screened regularly at your nearest health center.
* Ensure your family's vaccinations are up to date.
* Adopt healthy habits: eat fresh local foods, stay active, and go smoke-free!

Your health is your family’s wealth. Let’s take action together for a healthier Fiji!

Studies from across 185 countries and 36 cancer types reveal there are 30 preventable risk factors driving .
These include infections, to***co use, alcohol consumption and air pollution.

23/10/2026

CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING & TREATMENT TRAINING – DAY 2

Day 2 of the training concluded in Nadi, Western Division, strengthening healthcare workers’ skills in HPV screening, client registration, documentation and CanScreen data entry.

Together, we continue working towards cervical cancer elimination in Fiji.

22/10/2026

No Child Left Behind

When WOWS Kids Fiji reached out to the ECD Programme seeking support for the educational needs of children receiving palliative care, we embraced a shared vision that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, regardless of their health condition.

Through strong multisectoral and inter-ministerial collaboration, the ECD Programme connected WOWS Kids Fiji with Mobile Kindy Fiji, who have generously partnered with WOWS to support its staff, parents, and caregivers. Through training and mentorship, Mobile Kindy will share practical approaches to early learning, nurturing care, and child development, equipping caregivers with the skills and confidence to support children's learning journey.

This collaboration will help ensure that learning opportunities are brought directly to our little cancer champions and other children in care, so that while they focus on treatment and recovery, they do not miss out on education, development, and the chance to reach their full potential.

Together, we are proving that illness should never be a barrier to learning, and that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

22/10/2026

CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING & TREATMENT TRAINING

Stronger skills today mean better protection for women tomorrow.

The in-house Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Training began today in Nadi, Western Division, bringing healthcare workers together to strengthen their knowledge and practical skills.

Participants focused on counselling, client registration, documentation and entering screening information into the CanScreen system.

Held from 22- 23 October 2026, the two-day training is facilitated by Dr Kavita Murti, National Programme Manager. The training is helping healthcare workers build confidence while ensuring accurate documentation and reporting of HPV screening services.

The training forms part of Fiji’s ongoing efforts towards cervical cancer elimination. It supports the implementation of the HPV Screen-and-Treat approach and helps improve the quality of screening services delivered to women.

Day 2 will continue tomorrow, with further emphasis on practical skills and readiness to deliver effective, client-centred HPV screening services across the Western Division.

Together, we can eliminate cervical cancer in Fiji.

21/10/2026

101 staff take part in Pinktober initiative offering cervical cancer screening and other preventive health services

19/10/2026

CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING & TREATMENT TRAINING

Stronger skills today mean better protection for women tomorrow. 💜

The in-house Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Training began today in Lautoka, Western Division, bringing healthcare workers together to strengthen their knowledge and practical skills.

Participants focused on counselling, client registration, documentation and entering screening information into the CanScreen system.

Held from 19–20 October 2026, the two-day training is facilitated by Dr Kavita Murti, National Programme Manager. The training is helping healthcare workers build confidence while ensuring accurate documentation and reporting of HPV screening services.

The training forms part of Fiji’s ongoing efforts towards cervical cancer elimination. It supports the implementation of the HPV Screen-and-Treat approach and helps improve the quality of screening services delivered to women.

Day 2 will continue tomorrow, with further emphasis on practical skills and readiness to deliver effective, client-centred HPV screening services across the Western Division.

Together, we can eliminate cervical cancer in Fiji.