Fiji has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing 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 held in Denarau, Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services, Penioni Ravunawa, expressed Fiji’s full support for the initiative and urged the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners to extend their efforts in aiding Pacific nations to bolster oral health programs.
To address the critical need for improved oral health, Fiji plans to launch a comprehensive National Oral Health Survey aimed at evaluating the nation’s oral health status. This survey will serve as an essential foundation for developing future health policies and programs. Ravunawa highlighted the urgent challenges facing oral health in the region, revealing that over 40% of the Pacific population is affected by dental issues, including dental caries, gum disease, oral cancer, and tooth loss. In Fiji alone, approximately 46.7% of children aged 1 to 9 years suffer from untreated tooth decay in their baby teeth, while oral cancer accounts for around 2.9% of diagnoses, with men being disproportionately affected.
The Assistant Minister noted Fiji’s ongoing initiatives aimed at fostering oral hygiene through school and community engagement. In 2024, the 23 active School Oral Health Teams successfully reached more than 158,000 children and conducted 680 tooth-brushing drills. One standout program, the Healthy 5:20 Smile initiative, encourages preschoolers to maintain 20 healthy, cavity-free baby teeth by the age of five. This year, 2,278 preschoolers received Bula Smile 5:20 certificates, recognizing their achievements in oral health.
To enhance dental care further, Fiji is reinforcing its dental services through the appointment of a new National Advisor for Oral Health and the upgrading of dental equipment in public health facilities. World Oral Health Day in March is celebrated each year with collaborative outreach activities in partnership with the Fiji National University (FNU) and private sector organizations, aimed at promoting awareness of oral hygiene practices among both children and adults.
In line with these efforts, Ravunawa also highlighted the region’s growing capabilities in oral surgery, citing FNU’s establishment of postgraduate programs in Oral Surgery since 2014, which have graduated eight Master’s degree holders and seven individuals with Postgraduate Diplomas from Fiji and the Pacific.
Ravunawa encouraged continued support from the WHO and development partners to strengthen these vital regional initiatives. Fiji’s unwavering commitment, coupled with practical action plans and community involvement, paints a promising future for improving oral health standards not only in Fiji but across the Pacific region. By integrating domestic efforts with international partnerships, significant enhancements in health outcomes for future generations are within reach.