FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs

THE PROJECT FOR PACIFIC CO – LEARNING TOWARDS RESILIENT HEALTH SYSTEM: The first Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) Meeting

The Project for Pacific Co-learning Towards Resilient Health System was launched in 2023, to build a resilient health system in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH), that can respond to health emergencies in the Pacific region. The Project started in November 2024 and will carry out relevant activities until June 2028.

The first Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC)Meeting was held on May 15th at the conference room of Department of Health and Social Affairs (DHSA) in Pohnpei, with members from Chuuk, Yap, and Kosrae participating remotely. The main objective of the meeting was to share and agree on the work plan developed for the JICA Project based on the results of situation analysis.

Honorable Marcus Samo, Secretary of DHSA gave his opening remarks by appreciating the JCC members from all four states and JICA. He highlighted the importance of maintaining essential health services in health emergencies for the “build back better” health system.

The participants actively discussed the implementation strategies including modification of existing MCH guidelines and manuals, in-service training, use of digital technology, and networking among the Pacific countries. The challenges of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services in FSM were also shared to identify potential and feasible solutions to improve MCH delivery in the islands.

In the Closing remark, Mr. Kunihiro Yamauchi, JICA Micronesia Resident Representative thanked all JCC members for their active participation, and expressed his commitment to continue supporting FSM, through dispatch of JICA volunteers and other cooperation schemes to improve health system along with the JICA Project.