The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific, in partnership with the Government of New Zealand, has launched a new three-year initiative (2025–2027) aimed at advancing sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health for women, adolescents, and youth across Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu. The project seeks to strengthen health systems and expand access to essential, life-saving health services in these Pacific nations.
The initiative comes at a critical time, as maternal mortality remains a significant concern in the region. Fiji’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is estimated at 48.1 deaths per 100,000 live births, Tonga’s rose sharply from 44 in 2020 to 183 in 2023, and Vanuatu’s was 123 in 2017. Fiji is also grappling with an HIV outbreak declared in 2024, with infections rising rapidly among young people, driven by injecting drug use and sexual transmission. In addition, high levels of gender-based violence persist, with national data indicating that over 60–70 percent of women have experienced physical or sexual violence from a male partner in their lifetime.
The project aims to deliver integrated solutions addressing these interconnected challenges. It will enhance antenatal and postnatal care, improve birth preparedness, and increase skilled attendance at deliveries, especially in remote and rural areas. The initiative will also reinforce services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and support national HIV responses by expanding testing, treatment access, and targeted prevention for vulnerable groups.
New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji, H.E. Charlotte Darlow, emphasized that the initiative strengthens resilient health systems in the Pacific by investing in the health, rights, and futures of women and young people. Implementation will be coordinated with the Ministries of Health in Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga, along with civil society and community groups, ensuring a nationally led and collaborative approach. Fiji’s Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Hon. Penioni Koliniwai Ravunawa, noted that the project is timely in addressing the HIV outbreak while supporting broader improvements in maternal, newborn, and adolescent health outcomes.
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