The Vodafone ATH Foundation has teamed up with Fiji’s Higher Education Commission to allocate $32,000 towards enhancing public health education, specifically focusing on HIV awareness. This initiative aims to empower local communities through provincial councils and is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.
The funding will facilitate the implementation of the Certificate III in Community Health program across 14 provinces and two island communities. This program, recognized by the Fiji Higher Education Commission, will be delivered by Australian Pacific Management & Training.
As part of the initiative, the Ministry of Health will identify regions with higher occurrences of HIV, while the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs will select community members to partake in the program. These participants will ultimately serve as community advocates, taking on the critical role of educating others about HIV, raising awareness, and combating stigma and misinformation about the disease.
Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa expressed gratitude towards the partners involved and conveyed optimism regarding the program’s potential to strengthen Fiji’s national response to HIV and AIDS. This effort signifies a proactive approach to public health, demonstrating a shared commitment to enhancing community well-being and ensuring a well-informed population.
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