Category: Health News

August 9, 2024, Pohnpei State– FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs successfully hosted the second 17 & Under FSM Basketball and Volleyball Games, a crucial event aimed at promoting youth athletic development and a platform for promoting health, goodwill and unity.

Initially planned to take place in Yap but due to challenges with flight schedule the venue was changed to Pohnpei who hosted the previous year.  The Games saw athletes from Chuuk and Pohnpei come together to compete, while Yap and Kosrae were unable to participate.

The opening ceremony was held on July 31, 2024 with 107 athletes participating in basketball and volleyball. Hosted at the Pohnpei State Gymnasium, the event saw Chuuk State field one boys’ team and one girls’ team in both basketball and volleyball, while Pohnpei entered two boys’ teams and one girls’ team. The matches were fiercely competitive, showcasing the incredible skill and unwavering determination of these young athletes.

The tournament concluded on August 8, 2024, after several thrilling matches. The results are as follows:

• Boys’ Basketball Division: Pohnpei Team 1 clinched first place dethroning the previous year’s winners., followed by Chuuk in second, and Pohnpei Team 2 in third.
• Girls’ Basketball Division: Chuuk girls emerged as champions, also dethroning the previous year’s winners and Pohnpei girls came in second .
• Boys’ Volleyball Division: Pohnpei Team 1 took the championship, with Chuuk securing second place, and Pohnpei Team 2 finishing third.
• Girls’ Volleyball Division: Chuuk girls won the title, defeating Pohnpei girl’s team.

The FSM Government extends its gratitude to all who contributed to the success of this event, from the organizers to the athletes. The games not only showcased the talents of the young participants but also reinforced the importance of fostering healthy lifestyles for the future of the FSM.  Your support made this event possible, and together, we have inspired a brighter future for our young athletes. “BETTER HEALTH FOR ALL”

Pohnpei—July 22, 2024

Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) is crucial for the success of any immunization program. Proper storage and transportation of vaccines at recommended temperatures are critical for maintaining their potency and effectiveness, ultimately ensuring protection of the health of communities.

The FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs (DoHSA) is advancing its immunization programs with the Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) Assessment Assessor Workshop at Pohnpei State Hospital. The five-day workshop, facilitated by UNICEF and national EPI program focal points, aims to strengthen vaccine management systems across the region. It gathered immunization focal points from the four FSM state public health departments, representatives from the Palau EPI unit, and EPI specialists from the World Health Organization (WHO) in the FSM.

Chief of Public Health Dr Eliaser Johnson, speaking on behalf of Director Penias of Pohnpei State Health Department, highlighted the importance of strong coordination between state and national teams in his welcoming remarks. “Together, we can make a significant impact on public health and move closer to a world where preventable diseases are a thing of the past,” Dr Johnson stressed.

In his opening remarks, Acting Secretary of FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs Mr. Moses Pretrick underscored the workshop’s importance in equipping state EPI focal points with the latest EVM tools and methodologies. “Building local capacity for effective vaccine management assessments allows FSM to continually improve practices and enhance immunization programs,” Mr Pretrick stated.

UNICEF FSM Chief of Field Office, Mr. Cromwell Bacareza also emphasized the importance of strong partnerships for a successful EVM assessment in his introductory remarks. “Partnering with national and local health authorities is key to implementing the EVM assessment and improvement plans. Ongoing monitoring will sustain these improvements and tackle new vaccine management challenges,” Mr. Bacareza stated.

The workshop marks the first step in a comprehensive EVM assessment. Over the next few weeks, trained assessors will use EVM tool version 2.1 to evaluate nine critical areas of immunization supply chain system. UNICEF will then assist in analyzing the data, compiling the report, and developing the Effective Vaccine Management Country Improvement Plan (EVM cIP).

The FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs thanks UNICEF for its ongoing support and all participants for their active engagement in the effective vaccine management assessment. This collaboration is vital for advancing immunization efforts and improving public health outcomes.

Palikir, Pohnpei – April 28, 2024 – The Federated States of Micronesia Department of Health & Social Affairs concluded its 2024 Health Summit held from April 22-26, 2024 in Palikir, Pohnpei. The event brought together leaders from the National and State Governments, program managers and staff, stakeholders, partners, and members from the communities to deliberate on strategies to advancing the nation’s health in 2024 and beyond.

Delivering the keynote address, The Honorable Vice President Aren B. Palik highlighted the healthcare challenges confronting the FSM, emphasizing the shortage of skilled personnel, the need for enhanced professionalism among healthcare practitioners, technological gaps, and the imperative for life-saving treatments to elevate healthcare services. The Vice President underscored the ongoing shortfall of proficient doctors and nurses while acknowledging the current effort of College of Micronesia-FSM in graduating new nurses.  The Vice President also indicated to the audience that as a Nation we “need to do more” if we are to meet the demand for better and more complex healthcare need of the people in the coming days. The Vice President concluded his statement by reaffirming to the 300 plus audience to keep in mind that in everything we do “ unity is our strength and prosperity”, which is also the vision of the Simina-Palik Administration theme.

The five-day Health Summit structured around technical meetings and workshops.  Several thematic areas surfaced from the discussions and summarized in seven categories: (1) Leadership, Governance and Management, (2) Human Resources for Health, (3) Health Service Delivery, (4) Health Information, Planning & Surveillance, (5) Health Through the Life Course, (6) Social and Environmental Determinants of Health, and (7) Health Financing.

Throughout the Health Summit, technical experts from local, regional and international organizations, including representatives from the UN Agencies (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, FAO), World Bank, ADB, JICA, SPC, Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA), Association of State and Territorial Health Organization (ASTHO), COM-FSM and other partners, contributed valuable insights and recommendations to inform the formulation of strategic policies. The Minister of Health and Human Services from the Republic of Palau, the Hon. Gaafar Uherbelau, was also present and provided valuable advice as well as real-life experience from Palau.

The participants adopted universal health coverage for all as the unified vision for the next Framework for Sustainable Health Development in the Federated States of Micronesia: 2024-2034, which was the hallmark of the Summit, and lead to its endorsement by the Chief Executives. Additionally, the following documents were also launched: FSM Early Childhood Development Policy (2024-2028), Nutrition Action Plan (2020-2030), Healthy Eating Guidelines (2023-2027), and National Operational Guidelines on Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services 2024.

As the FSM embarks on this transformative journey towards achieve its goal “Better Health for All”, the momentum generated by the National Health Summit signals a pivotal moment in the nation’s healthcare trajectory.  In closing the Summit on behalf of His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, Secretary Marcus Samo remarked “our Unity is our Strength and Prosperity. We believe in the power and strength of unity.  We believe in leaving no communities behind”. Secretary Samo concluded by saying that the outlook for health development is exciting.  There are opportunities ahead; we need to take bold steps to achieve better health for all.