Growing concern over future pandemics is pushing Pacific leaders to call for stronger global health cooperation and fairer support for smaller island nations.

The concerns were raised at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, where Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Penioni Ravunawa spoke on behalf of Pacific Island countries and territories.

Penioni Ravunawa highlighted that Pacific nations are still facing weak health systems, shortages of health workers and fragile medical supply chains exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also emphasized that climate change continues to increase the risk of infectious disease outbreaks across the region, placing more pressure on vulnerable island communities.

Pacific leaders are now supporting an extension of negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement’s pathogen access and benefit-sharing system, saying more time is needed to reach a fair and practical agreement for all countries.

“Pacific nations are still facing weak health systems, shortages of health workers and fragile medical supply chains exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic” Ravunawa emphasized.

BY JOELI RAGONELIWA