The Fiji National University’s (FNU), College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS) was commended by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for implementing research with real-world impact that was aligned to national priorities.

Speaking at the launch of the Pacific Health Observatory (PHO) and Data Repository, Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary, Dr James Fong stated that research would enrich lives with the latest knowledge of health and its systems, nutrition, technology, and business, amongst others. The PHO is a critical resource that would be supporting the work in Fiji and across the region towards improved health outcomes for all.

The Population Based Age-Stratified Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity in Fiji (PASS Fiji study), and a 4-Country study of the Experience of Healthcare workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic, which will be undertaken in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, and Tuvalu, were also launched at the event.

These research studies and the work of the PHO will be led by the Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research (FIPHR), the research arm of the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

“Health research also improves services in terms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management. It provides the opportunity to develop new tests for diagnosis, treatment and processes which are peculiar to our limited resources and Third World developing country settings,” Dr Fong said.

“Today, we are witnessing the commitment of CMNHS to achieving its mission to conduct research to generate evidence which promote good health and well-being outcomes, influence change by informing policy decisions and programmatic interventions targeting topical issues such as COVID-19 and vaccination, translation of health research into policies for the improvement of services as well as address productivity, safety, and welfare of healthcare workers at work. These motivations serve to strengthen the provision of health services especially the technical know-how for our healthcare workers.”

“The Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services is happy to collaborate and support the Fiji National University through the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences in conducting COVID-19 research studies as those selfless motivations noted above can further inform and or strengthen health policies, practice and programs, especially the Ministry’s preparations for future pandemics and other health crises.”

Dr Fong also acknowledged the financial support provided by the Commonwealth of Australia through its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

CMNHS Acting Dean, Dr Donald Wilson said that the Pacific Health Observatory would support regional countries through the dissemination and translation of health research, and when its data repository goes online, it would serve as an accessible source of health research data done in Fiji and the Pacific.

“We are also pleased to have the Permanent Secretary for Health launch the two studies that will be carried out by the College’s research arm. Through FIPHR, its Communicable Disease Research Centre (CDRC) will undertake the PASS Fiji study, for which a a protocol has been approved to examine exposure and immune response to SARS-CoV2 in the Fijian population over the next two years,” Dr Wilson stated.

“The 4-Country study will be a baseline to describe work-related and personal challenges among healthcare workers who were providing COVID-19 services during the pandemic and how they coped.”