The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) in Fiji currently has only one staff member tasked with overseeing climate resilience initiatives. This limited capacity has led to delays in reporting the ministry’s efforts to address the impacts of climate change on public health. The Fiji Health Adaptation Plan (FHAP) for 2024 – 2030 highlights that the MHMS faces significant challenges in its institutional capacity, particularly concerning human resources.
A recent Monitoring and Evaluation Report on the Climate Change and Health Strategic Action Plan revealed that these challenges have hindered the Climate Change and Health Steering Committee from producing any reporting outputs, which are essential for tracking progress on implementation efforts. The staff shortage is evident, as the Climate Change and Health Unit has been left with just one officer dedicated to climate change responsibilities.
In a proactive response, MHMS is planning to expand the Climate Change and Health Unit (CCHU) by recruiting additional personnel. The goal is to establish a fully functional unit with at least three permanent staff members dedicated to advancing the objectives set out in the health adaptation plan. The new unit aims to complement existing programs by integrating climate change actions into operational plans, rather than duplicating current functions within the ministry.
Furthermore, the CCHU will focus on developing strategic action plans and policies addressing the intersection of climate change and health, alongside capacity building initiatives and systematic monitoring and evaluation of relevant activities.
This commitment to strengthening the capacity of the MHMS in addressing climate change demonstrates a hopeful shift towards a more integrated and concerted approach to safeguard public health amid the challenges posed by a changing climate. The planned recruitment and establishment of a dedicated unit are encouraging steps that signal progress in the fight against climate-related health issues.
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