Childhood obesity and diabetes are growing concerns across the Pacific and addressing them requires early action and support from families, schools, health professionals and governments.
The Fiji National University (FNU) is working with regional and international partners through the Pacific Ending Childhood Obesity (P-ECHO) programme, to help address these challenges and improve health outcomes for children across the region.
FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba with Sweden’s Ambassador to the Pacific, Ambassador Marina Berg at the Grand Pacific Hotel today.
FNU reaffirmed its commitment at an event hosted by Sweden’s Ambassador to the Pacific, Ambassador Marina Berg, at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva today. The event focused on the importance of early prevention, research and working together to reduce the risk of childhood obesity and related Type 2 diabetes.
FNU is the fund holder and coordinator of the four-year P-ECHO programme, funded by the World Diabetes Foundation. Through the Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research (FIPHR) and the Centre for Prevention of Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (C-POND), the programme covers five Pacific countries and territories: Fiji, Vanuatu, Nauru, Niue, and Wallis and Futuna.
The programme works with the Pacific Community (SPC), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the ministries of health and education in participating countries. Uppsala University provides scientific leadership.
FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba said the University had an important role to play in addressing the region’s health challenges.
FNU Vice-Chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba
“Through our College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, we educate many of the doctors, nurses, dietitians and public health professionals who serve this country. When the health of our nation is under strain, our university cannot stand on the sidelines,” Professor Nabobo-Baba said.
She referred to findings from Fiji’s 2025 STEPS Survey, which show that one in six adults in Fiji lives with diabetes, while NCDs account for approximately 80 per cent of all deaths.
Professor Nabobo-Baba added that working together was essential to finding solutions that reflected the needs and experiences of Pacific communities.
“We at FNU believe that good partnership is not measured by how much one side gives. It is measured by how much both sides grow. Uppsala brings deep expertise in childhood obesity and diabetes. Our teams bring knowledge of Pacific families, schools and health systems. Together we will produce evidence that neither of us could produce alone, and that our ministries have asked for,” the Vice-Chancellor added.
Sweden’s Ambassador to the Pacific, Ambassador Marina Berg,
Ambassador Berg said giving children a healthy start required support from families, communities, governments and health and education systems.
“We all know that healthy growth begins with early prevention and requires supportive and strong governments and communities, as well as well-functioning education systems and health organisations. Healthy growth is fundamental to sustainable economic development,” Ambassador Berg said.
She welcomed the opportunity for participants to share knowledge, build connections and learn more about the programme’s plans.
“I am happy to see so many brilliant minds here today because I am confident that, through cooperation and the sharing of information and knowledge, we grow as individuals, institutions, societies and countries. We are smarter together.”
“I am therefore looking forward to learning more from you about the vision and planned implementation of P-ECHO, and to being part of establishing a platform for networking and building new connections today, with the shared goal of fostering a healthier future for children across the Pacific,” Ambassador Berg further stated.
Through P-ECHO, FNU and its partners aim to strengthen research and support practical, evidence-based approaches to preventing childhood obesity and reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes among children across the Pacific.