Rising seas threaten Fiji’s health facilities, Health Minister warns
Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says rising seas and coastal erosion are affecting facilities, reinforcing the need for climate-resilient infrastructure.
Sunday 11 October 2026 | 12:00
Updated 11 October 2026 | 13:42 FJT
Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu (third from left) with the delegates at the Pre-COP31 Pacific Health in a Changing Climate: Country-led Innovation for Resilient Health Systems side event at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa in Denarau, Nadi.
Photo: Katherine Naidu
Rising sea levels and coastal erosion are threatening the integrity of Fiji’s health facilities, while climate-sensitive diseases are adding to the challenges facing the country’s healthcare system.
Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says climate change is increasing risks to health infrastructure, strengthening the case for climate-resilient health systems to become a priority ahead of COP31.
“For us in Fiji, we not only feel it in new trends of climate-sensitive diseases, but we also experience it with the rising sea level and coastal erosion that affect a good number of our facilities in terms of integrity,” he said.
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“Then again, we have issues with the changing climate that affects our infrastructure.”
He was speaking at the Pre-COP31 Pacific Health in a Changing Climate: Country-led Innovation for Resilient Health Systems side event at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa in Denarau, Nadi, last week.
Dr Lalabalavu said the Ministry of Health and Medical Services had developed a Health National Adaptation Plan in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pacific Community (SPC) and other organisations to prepare health services for climate-related impacts.
“And what the plan does is to ensure that we plan accordingly in mitigating and ensuring that we have the infrastructure, retrofitted infrastructure, that is able to withstand the changes in climate.”
The regional discussion called for climate-resilient health systems to become a core adaptation priority, with investment in safer facilities, disease surveillance and healthcare workforce capacity.
Dr Lalabalavu welcomed the elevation of health and education as standing priorities in Pacific Islands Forum discussions.
“It's very important, and for me as the Minister of Health, I'll always be pushing to ensure that health is always at the top of the priority locally in government, regionally, and internationally in events such as this,” he said.
