Limited data on cancer in Fiji is a concern due to insufficient information sharing among healthcare providers, stated Shweta Kapoor, programs manager at the Fiji Cancer Society (FCS). Kapoor spoke at the Diverse Stakeholders Meeting on Youth Sexual Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice (SRHRJ) held on Friday. She noted that private practitioners typically do not report cancer diagnoses to the Ministry of Health, and other NGOs conducting Pap smears or breast examinations also fail to share their findings.
The workshop, organized by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), aimed to unite key stakeholders from the region to discuss SRHRJ issues. Kapoor emphasized the urgent need for Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) nurses in rural areas to enhance education and screenings for the population.
She further explained that this lack of data sharing creates a significant gap that needs to be addressed to improve cancer care and health outcomes in Fiji. The four-day meeting also focused on strengthening partnerships, sharing effective practices, and enhancing youth SRHR initiatives across the Pacific region.