Climate change is putting growing pressure on Fiji’s health infrastructure, with damage to facilities, saltwater intrusion, and changing patterns of vector-borne diseases among emerging concerns.

Sai Prema’s Sanjeevani Heart Hospital will begin offering cardiovascular procedures to adult patients this month, expanding its services beyond children.

Children across Fiji and the Pacific are receiving access to life-saving heart surgeries, completely free of charge, through the latest pediatric cardiac surgical mission at Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Heart Hospital in Suva.

Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu is urging Fijians to seek medical attention early, as flu-like illness continues to spread across the country.

Faith and physical health are closely connected, according to Hillview Seventh-day Adventist Church Pastor Lorenzo Berry.

Pacific countries are being urged to learn from Fiji’s experience with the HIV epidemic before they face similar challenges.

Getting students to speak openly about HIV could depend on how well teachers are trained to handle the sensitive issue.

Medical Services Pacific’s new pilot school-based survey has revealed both progress and persistent gaps in HIV and drug awareness among Fijian students.

Experts are raising concerns that sex education remains a taboo subject in many Fijian communities, creating barriers to HIV and drug awareness efforts in schools.

The Ministry of Health plans to convert a number of nursing stations into health centres to improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural and isolated communities.

Fiji is now in a generalised HIV epidemic, with the number of people living with HIV rising sharply over the past decade.

The Government says specialist health outreach services in the Western Division can continue even if Aspen Medical withdraws its outreach programme.