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SPC's 75th anniversary: The Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN) - 25 years of networking and innovation towards health security in the Pacific

The Pacific Community turned 75 on the 6th of February 2022. As we mark 75 years of the Pacific Community’s Service to the region, on the 6th of each month we will feature a key moment in history for the organization.  


Over the past 25 years, SPC has been facilitating networking, sharing of information and knowledge between PICTs and partners to strengthen health security in the Pacific through the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN).

May 19 2021

The Pacific Community (SPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a manual for surveillance and control of Aedes mosquitoes’ vectors in the Pacific during a virtual meeting today.

Mosquitoes of the Aedes genus can transmit viruses that cause dengue, Zika and chikungunya disease. Three diseases that have taken their toll in the Pacific region in recent years, with 95 outbreaks (68 dengue outbreaks, 12 Zika virus and 15 Chikungunya) reported between January 2012 and 13 May 2021.  

June 15 2020

With the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic, the world started giving greater attention to health professionals who work at the frontline of the response. The crisis arrives at a time where more qualified health professionals are desperately needed: according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 9 million more nurses and midwives are needed globally if we want to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. It is to highlight that need, that WHO designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

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 21 2020

Nursery and midwifery challenges and the leadership capacity of these disciplines must be strengthened at a national, regional & international level. This was the call from participants at the inaugural Pacific Heads of Nursing & Midwifery Meeting (PHoNM) held from the 11-14th of February in Nadi.

Thirteen Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) attended the PHoNM alongside nursing stakeholders and regional and international partners.

February 14 2020

The Pacific Community (SPC) is closely monitoringCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak that started in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China early December 2019 and continues to grow. Our Public Health Division (PHD) works in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of the multi-agency Incident Management Team (IMT) which has been set up to support and guide Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) in their preparedness, surveillance and response activities.