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February 19 2021

A group of 13 Tongan officers last month received 2-year certifications for laboratory specimen handling and shipment of infectious substances in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations. These certifications are an important step for strengthening laboratory services across the Pacific region. This service is especially critical during a pandemic as there is a need to refer samples across borders for testing and confirmation of diseases.

March 20 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak that started in early December 2019 has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. It means that the number of affected countries increased, including Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). It doesn’t mean, however, that the virus has become more infectious or more deadly.

February 19 2020

The European Union (EU) has provided EUR 3 million (FJD 7.2 million) to the Pacific Community (SPC) to strengthen health security in the Pacific.

The Public Health Surveillance Network Services to Strengthen Health Security in the Pacific project, which will be led by Pacific Community’s (SPC) Public Health Division, will support regional capacity for surveillance and epidemiology; laboratory services and systems; vector and disease surveillance and control; and risk communication.

Training for shipping infectious substances

​Dangerous Goods Training designed for medical laboratory personnel on 'General awareness, function specific and security awareness for shipping infectious substances (Category A & B), and other related hazardous materials'.

This course qualifies medical laboratory personnel to handle and process dangerous goods (e.g. biological samples) for carriage by air for a 24-month period.

Training provided by the Pacific Community (SPC) in accordance with the 60th Edition of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations.