Community Health Workers Vital to Fiji’s Primary Health Care System, Says PS Health

Community Health Workers (CHWs) continue to play a vital role in strengthening Fiji’s primary health care system, providing essential links between communities and health services across the country.

This was highlighted by the Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, Dr Jemesa Tudravu, while addressing participants at the Training of the Trainers Workshop held in Nasese today.

The five-day workshop brought together Directors of Nursing, Nursing Unit Managers, and Senior Sisters-in-Charge from divisional hospitals nationwide.

The event marks a renewed focus on empowering health leaders to enhance community outreach and service delivery.

“CHWs build the trust of the people or community they serve in the health system through the care and service they provide in health promotion, health prevention, and primary care,” said Dr Tudravu.

“In this way, the community gets to know that they have a friend in the health system, and we are here to help and support them towards achieving their maximum potential in health.”

He emphasized that the revised CHW training package represents a significant step forward in the Ministry’s efforts to improve public health and progress toward Fiji’s national goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Dr Tudravu also acknowledged the ongoing support from the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), whose assistance was instrumental in facilitating the workshop.