Testing has been one of the critical elements in global efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Dr Eka Buadromo is the Advisor for Laboratory Services in the Pacific, for the Pacific Community. She says now that borders are open and there is community transmission testing is a vitally important tool to help keep cases low.
Duration: 5min
Broadcast:
As measles cases continue to be reported in the Pacific, the Pacific Community (SPC) continues to closely monitor the situation and produces a weekly map showing measles and other epidemic and emerging diseases circulating in the region.
As of 13 January 2020, Pacific countries with documented measles virus circulation and alerts on the map are: American Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga and Australia (Queensland).
The map can be accessed online at: www.spc.int/phd/epidemics
In a world-first, a survey module about back pain, arthritis and other musculoskeletal health problems is being piloted in the Solomon Islands national Demographic and Health Survey this month.
The musculoskeletal survey module has been developed by the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
