Fiji’s Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu launched the Fiji Health Adaptation Plan 2024 – 2030 at the COP29 forum in Baku, Azerbaijan on Friday.
Minister Lalabalavu informed that Fiji is one of the first countries in the Pacific region to establish a Health Adaptation Plan. The plan is aligned to the current National Adaptation Plan 2019 – 2024 and is reflected in our National Development Plan represents a vital step for Fiji to address the impact of climate change on health.
Minister Lalabalavu informed the forum that the new plan builds on more than a decade of activity on climate change health in Fiji and continues from the Climate Change and Health Strategic Action Plan (CCHSAP) 2016-2022.
Endorsed by the Government of Fiji as its health sector’s response to the health impacts of climate change, the FHAP is designed to empower Fijians to develop, implement, and monitor robust, health-focused adaptation strategies which will systematically integrate health into the broader national climate adaptation plan and help build resilience in our health system and our community at all levels.
The Regional Director for the World Health Organisation Western Pacific Region Dr Saia Piukala in his remarks congratulated Fiji for the launch of FHAP and acknowledged that Fiji is a leader in climate change and health actions in the Pacific region.
Dr Piukala also encouraged other Small Island States in the Pacific to follow Fiji’s lead and establish their own health adaptation plans to address the impact of climate on health in their own countries.
Minister Lalabalavu acknowledged the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) for supporting the health ministry in the development of the Fiji’s National Adaptation Plan or FHAP in short has been, and informed that the current KOICA funded project in Fiji has identified twenty at risk healthcare facilities for infrastructural improvement to address flood-resistant infrastructure to be able to withstand extreme weather conditions, and strengthen back-up water supply systems to provide access to clean water during disasters.
