SCC Pushes for Stronger Coordinated Public Health Framework

The Suva City Council (SCC) is urging for a strengthened and more coordinated public health framework as Fiji's Parliament deliberates on amendments to public health laws. Tevita Boseiwaqa, SCC Special Administrator, told the Standing Committee on Social Affairs that effective public health management requires more than a single agency's effort.

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public health cannot be managed by a single agency and requires close coordination between multiple sectors, including local government, water authorities and environmental agencies.

Boseiwaqa stressed the necessity of close collaboration among various sectors, including local government, water authorities, and environmental agencies. He stated that the legislation should explicitly outline how these institutions will communicate and work together to tackle public health challenges efficiently. The SCC also advocates for a multi-level, multisectoral approach that connects community-level systems with provincial and divisional structures, ensuring health measures reach all Fijians.

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the legislation should clearly define how institutions communicate and work together to address public health challenges effectively.

A significant concern raised by the SCC is the absence of a clear definition of "public health" within the proposed legislation. While officials from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services offered a definition encompassing disease prevention, food safety, health promotion, and emergency response, Boseiwaqa insisted the Bill should explicitly mandate collaboration between agencies responsible for essential services like water, sanitation, and environmental management. The SCC's submission also includes recommendations on the Central Board of Health, overcrowding, waste management, pollution, enforcement, and water safety.

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the framework must adopt a multi-level, multisectoral approach, linking community-level systems with provincial and divisional structures to ensure health measures reach all Fijians.