News
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Kiribati 2026 MDA Preparation
Following the success of the 2025 campaign, Kiribati MHMS, supported by World Scabies Program and The Fred Hollows Foundation, are now preparing for a second national integrated mass drug administration (MDA) for scabies and trachoma.Last year marked a major milestone as the first nationally integrated MDA for scabies and trachoma in the world, and the first MDA for scabies in Kiribati. Building on this achievement, preparations for the 2026 rollout are well underway, with a focus on strengthening delivery and coverage.As in 2025, regional collaboration remains central to the program. Experienced personnel from Solomon Islands will again support training and planning in Kiribati, sharing their extensive expertise in neglected tropical disease (NTD) control. This ongoing partnership highlights the strength of collaboration between Pacific partners in advancing NTD control.Our team in Kiribati is in full swing preparing for the MDA! -
International Women's Day - Melaia Liku
This International Women’s Day, we’re proud to recognise the women of the World Scabies Program team. Melaia Liku is the National Scabies Coordinator in Fiji and leads on the scabies control program including managing the Scabies Joint Transition Committee.
Melaia is a public health professional with over 10 years of experience managing community health and humanitarian projects in Fiji. She holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biology and Chemistry, a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, and a Master of Business Administration. As a public health practitioner, Melaia works closely with national partners, communities, and stakeholders to strengthen health systems and improve community wellbeing through practical, community-centred approaches.
Join us in recognising Melaia’s passion and commitment to the people of Fiji! -
International Women's Day - Rose Kamoa
The World Scabies Program is marking International Women’s Day by celebrating Rose Kamoa, a MDA Officer in Kiribati. Rose's background includes working on public health programs with the Health Promotion Unit at the Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services. During her time at UNICEF, she worked as a Health System Strengthening Officer where she contributed to improving service delivery and health outcomes in the Outer Islands in Kiribati.
Rose started with the World Scabies Program in March 2025 and has been vital to the success of the program in Kiribati. Rose’s current role supports the implementation of mass drug administration activities and prevalence surveys including assisting with training, data collection, supervision of activities, including travelling to the Outer Islands.
Let’s celebrate Rose’s meaningful impact across Kiribati!
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International Women's Day - Johnina Huniehu
It’s International Women’s Day and the World Scabies Program are marking the day by acknowledging the strong women in our team. Today we are highlighting Johnina Huniehu who has worked with us for over 4 years in Solomon Islands. Johnina has supported the program by providing mass drug administration (MDA) training, field supervision of MDA and survey operations.
Johnina has also provided technical support to the World Scabies Program team in Kiribati by contributing to training activities, supervising the MDA and supporting the recent prevalence survey.
Johnina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health and is committed to strengthening community health systems and promoting effective, evidence-based approaches to scabies control across the Pacific. Please joining us in celebrating Johnina!
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International Women's Day - Miiri Tong
As we approach International Women’s Day, the World Scabies Program is celebrating the wonderful women who are driving scabies control across the Pacific Region.
Today we are recognising Miiri Tong. Miiri is the Country Coordinator in Kiribati and oversees the national scabies program. Miiri started with the World Scabies Program in 2025 and was key to the success of the recent mass drug administration for scabies and trachoma.
Miiri is a dedicated nurse with extensive experience across the Ministry of Health. Since beginning her career in 1998, she has earned qualifications in nursing, midwifery, and eye care, including a Bachelor of Nursing Science and a Postgraduate Certificate in Eye Care.
Today, we celebrate Miiri's dedication to making a lasting impact on communities across Kiribati.
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World NTD Day Event in Fiji
The World Scabies Program (WSP) proudly supported the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services to host this year's World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day. Scabies became an NTD in 2017 due to its high global burden. The Assistant Minister for Health Penioni Ravunawa delivered the keynote address discussing the NTD Day theme: “Unite. Act. Eliminate" and showcased Fiji's incredible work to prevent scabies across the country.
We'd like to thank all our partners including Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for supporting Fiji’s journey toward a scabies-free future.
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WSP video for World NTD Day 2026
Join WSP in acknowledging World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2026! Unite. Act. Eliminate.
Click this link to view the video put together by WSP Solomon Islands staff member Johnina Huniehu, featuring the WSP teams in Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Kiribati: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1640929097329074
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National control programs for scabies: Experiences from Fiji and Solomon Islands
WSP are excited to share a recently published paper describing the world first national scabies mass drug administration (MDA) programs in Solomon Islands and Fiji.The paper contributes to the overall evidence base for public health control of scabies by documenting the experiences and lessons learned from implementing national ivermectin-based MDA in non-research settings.WSP would like to thank all of the authors and partners, including the Solomon Islands and Fiji Ministries of Health and Medical Services.It is published in the PLOS-NTD and can be found here: https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0013874 -
World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day!
Today is World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day. Today’s aim is to increase global awareness of the 21 conditions, including scabies, that are recognised as NTDs. Please join us in marking today and increasing the awareness and actions to prevent and treat NTDs.
The World Scabies Program team in Kiribati have made this fantastic clip to celebrate the success of last year’s mass drug administration.
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