Fiji has shown its commitment to enhancing oral health across the Pacific by endorsing the draft Western Pacific Regional Implementation Plan for the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health. During the 2025 Western Pacific Regional Committee Meeting in Denarau, Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, affirmed Fiji’s full support for the plan and called upon the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to continue their efforts in aiding Pacific nations to improve oral health initiatives.
Ravunawa announced that Fiji is set to initiate a comprehensive National Oral Health Survey designed to assess the country’s oral health status, which will serve as a foundation for future health policies and programs. He noted the pressing challenges in oral health, citing the statistic that over 40% of the Pacific population suffers from issues such as dental caries, gum disease, oral cancer, and tooth loss. In Fiji, a startling 46.7% of children aged 1 to 9 years have untreated tooth decay in their baby teeth, while lip and oral cancer account for approximately 2.9% of diagnoses, with men being more affected.
The Assistant Minister highlighted Fiji’s ongoing initiatives to promote oral hygiene through school and community programs. In 2024, Fiji’s 23 active School Oral Health Teams reached more than 158,000 children and conducted 680 tooth-brushing drills. One notable initiative, the Healthy 5:20 Smile, encourages preschoolers to retain 20 healthy, cavity-free baby teeth by age five. This year, 2,278 preschool children received Bula Smile 5:20 certificates in recognition of their accomplishments in oral health.
To further bolster dental care, Fiji is strengthening its dental services with the appointment of a new National Advisor for Oral Health and upgrading dental equipment in public health facilities. Each year, World Oral Health Day in March is marked with collaborative outreach activities in partnership with the Fiji National University (FNU) and private sector entities, promoting awareness about oral hygiene practices among both children and adults.
In conjunction with these efforts, Ravunawa noted the region’s increasing capabilities in oral surgery, referencing FNU’s launch of postgraduate programs in Oral Surgery since 2014. This educational framework has already produced eight Master’s graduates and seven holders of Postgraduate Diplomas from Fiji and the Pacific.
Ravunawa encouraged ongoing support from WHO and development partners to reinforce these critical regional efforts. Fiji’s commitment, alongside tangible action plans and community engagement, signifies a hopeful path toward improving oral health standards not only in Fiji but throughout the Pacific region as well. The collaboration between domestic efforts and international partnerships can lead to impactful improvements, fostering better health outcomes for future generations.