Regional Archive April 2012

MANILA, 23 APRIL 2012 - The World Health Organization is closing in on its goal of eliminating measles in the Western Pacific Region by the end of this year.

About 30 people, representing 10 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and regional organisations, are currently attending a meeting to discuss a Pacific Regional Policy Framework that will facilitate PICs' access to support under REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) funding possibilities.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is pleased to share the findings of a gender stocktake conducted in six Pacific Islands countries in 2009-2010.

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS- The Pacific Freedom Forum condemns the brutal attack by uniformed Police officers on Papua New Guinea journalist Mark Kayok on the evening of Saturday 21 April, in Port Moresby.

PFF Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS--Independent journalism and jobs for journalists in Palau face the axe if a proposed telecommunications bill before the country's senate becomes law, says regional media monitoring network the Pacific Freedom Forum.

VANUATU, 17 April 2012 - The World Health Organization and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the development of the Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN) in the country.

Imagine a coconut tree surviving in a bottle small enough to hide in the palm of your hand. Amazing, isn't it? Yet this is not Aladdin's cave and no genie's magic but an advancement of science that has made possible the preservation and maintenance of clean, pure varieties of our traditional staple food crops.

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Market Access Specialist Josua Wainiqolo made it clear that SPC will continue to provide assistance through its Land Resources Division to Melanesian countries in improving biosecurity issues and increasing trade in agricultural and forestry products.

HONG KONG, 9 APRIL 2012 - A new WHO collaborating centre was named here today to help smokers quit and to reduce the heavy toll of tobacco-related deaths in the Western Pacific Region.

SUVA, 04 APRIL 2012 - As a joint coordinator for the health and nutrition cluster, WHO and UNICEF convened the first cluster meeting to identify the key health and nutrition priorities post-flooding and ensure the coherent and effective response of all agencies, organization and NGOs.

Fiji is starting recovery preparations after the heavy flooding that hit the country in the last few days.

MANILA, 23 MARCH 2012 - A new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a shockingly high prevalence of areca nut (also called betel) and tobacco chewing in the Western Pacific Region and urges governments and other stakeholders to make people aware of the dangers to health.

Delegates attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Pacific Arts and Culture currently being held in Honiara were informed of some crucial issues regarding preparations for the eagerly awaited Festival of Pacific Arts in July.