This handout picture released from UNICEF Samoa shows nurse April Wilson (L) and team leader Luisa Popo preparing vaccinations during a nationwide campaign against measles in the Samoan town of Le'auva'a. Photo: AFP PHOTO / ALLAN STEPHEN / UNICEF
Samoa - measles
Samoa's Director General of Health Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma says there are two new suspected case of measles in the country.
But the initial suspected case has been ruled out after tests were returned from New Zealand.
Government newspaper Savali reported the Health Ministry is maintaining its strict surveillance and monitoring duties for a potential outbreak of measles in the wake of alerts from New Zealand and Australia.
During the 2019 measles outbreak 83 lives were lost, mostly young children.
The country's health sector has aggressively re-launched vaccination programmes and authorities are aiming to increase coverage of the first Measles, Mumps and Rubella shot to 90 percent, and lift the second to 80 percent.
Tuvalu - climate
Tuvalu's Prime Minister Kausea Natano has told a UN Conference to include climate vulnerability in assessing whether a country leaves the world's least developed countries list.
Natano told leaders at the UN Least Developed Countries (LDC) summit in Doha that the reality of Small Island Developing States constantly facing cyclones, droughts and outbreaks of disease was not fully captured in the current indicators.
Tuvalu faced prolonged drought and subsequent outbreaks of dengue and typhoid in the past months.
Natano said according to current assessments the only criterion Tuvalu does not meet to graduate as a LDC nation is the Economic Vulnerability Index.
But graduating from the LDC status will restrict the Pacific island nation's development efforts and result in the withdrawal of LDC-specific international support, he said.
French Polynesia - elections
French Polynesia's ruling Tapura Huiraatira party has held its Congress as it prepares for next month's territorial elections.
About 5,000 attendees were at the meeting in Tahiti, which affirmed the party's commitment to autonomy.
The party is yet to release its lists of candidates but has the support of 30 of the 42 mayors.
The party leader Edouard Fritch is hoping to be re-elected.
In the 2018 elections, the Tapura won 38 of the assembly's 57 seats, thanks to the bonus seats added to the tally of the party which won the most votes.
Cook Islands - parliament
The Cook Islands' new parliament could have its first sitting next week following the country's general election six months ago.
The delay has been due to a clause in the constitution, which requires all petition hearings to be completed before Parliament sits.
Cook Islands Party candidate Sonny Williams will remain as the new Member of Parliament for Titikaveka after the final election petition last Friday.
Williams said Parliament could now sit as early as next week.
CNMI - work hours
Northern Marianas governor Arnold Palacios is looking at implementing an eight-hour reduction of hours for government workers, to 72 hours a fortnight.
This is due to the budget crunch following the spending of the previous government.
Civil servants in the Northern Marianas currently spend 80 hours at work every two weeks.
The proposal comes as Palacios sent his request to the House of Representatives to revise the 2023 budget.
Under the revised budget, his administration identified an estimated net gross revenue and resources of $US116.19 million for fiscal year 2023.
The original approved budget for the CNMI's government's operations in fiscal year 2023 was just $109.7 million, but an additional $32.6 from the American Rescue Plan Act and the Community Disaster Loan raised the funding level available to CNMI government to $142.4 million.
But due to the ARPA and CDL funds being overspent and overcommitted by the previous administration of former governor Ralph DLG Torres, those supposed to be additional funds are now non-existent.
Fiji -inmates
Fiji's Attorney General Siromi Turaga has called for an urgent review of the conditions faced by elderly and medically vulnerable inmates in the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS).
Turaga told FBC News there were currently 71 inmates over the age of 60 and expressed concern that the Corrections Act does not provide for those with medical conditions.
He acknowledged that alternative solutions may need to be found within the existing framework of the law.
As discussions on policy continue, Turaga said the best care may ultimately be provided at home.
He stressed that urgent action was needed to address the needs of elderly and medically vulnerable inmates at FCS.
