The WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and Management is a collaborative research centre between the School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, Fiji National University and Deakin University (WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention), Melbourne, Australia which was established in 2009. Formerly, known as Centre for the Prevention of Obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (C-POND) who received visibility and recognition by national and international authorities for its work on Non-Communicable Diseases.

The designation as WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and Management was officiated in 2019 by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr. Ifereimi Waqanibete, who witnessed the recognition of the work of a centre that has been strong ally for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services helping to implement the mandated work and achieve its current goals.

C-POND is infact the institution in the Pacific Island Countries to receive WHO Collaborating Centre status that was a major achievement for the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences. WHO gains access to top institutions worldwide and the institutional capacity to support its work while C-POND will gain greater attention from the public and academic institutions for the health issues they work on.

WHO designated the C-POND as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and Management, to:

• assist the WHO in supporting the prevention and management of NCDs,
• assist the WHO in supporting countries in the Pacific to develop policies on healthy diets and physical activity; and
• to conduct research on unhealthy diets and physical inactivity to support the implementation of evidence-based policies in line with WHO recommendations.

Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention and Management is situated at the Tamavua Campus in Suva, linking it closely with its teaching and training programs and supporting PhDs, Masters and post-graduate students, research projects and training programs.

VISION

Creating the evidence, knowledge exchange and research capacity needed to reverse the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) and obesity crisis in the Pacific islands.

MISSION

• To conduct solution-oriented research on obesity and NCDs. The focus is on finding the solutions to reduce the very high prevalence and burden of obesity and NCDs in the pacific.
• To disseminate the research findings and translate them into policies and practice. The usual process of research dissemination through publications and conference presentations is accompanied by strong knowledge exchange linkages with government agencies, NGOs, private sector organizations, and communities to translate the research findings from C-POND and international studies into policies and practice in the pacific.
• To build research capacity in obesity and NCD prevention. This includes the supervisor of Masters students and Doctoral students as well as training for research staff.
• To conduct other research-related activities which further the aims of C-POND.