The Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, visited health and education projects that have been supported by Australian aid on a recent trip to Tonga.
The Governor-General visited the Nukunuku Health Centre which has been refurbished as a joint effort between Australia and the local community. Australia provided the funding for the refurbishment and new equipment, and the community undertook the manual labour. It is a good example of how Australia and the people of Tonga are working hand in hand to achieve results at the community level.
Health clinics such as the one in Nukunuku are often the first port of call for communities seeking advice and medical treatment. They provide critical primary health care and early and preventative treatment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
NCDs are Tonga's biggest health challenge. Australian aid is helping the Tongan Ministry of Health provide educational and clinical services at the community level. The aim is to reduce the risk factors for NCDs (smoking, excess drinking, obesity, and lack of exercise) and manage related illnesses (diabetes, chronic heart disease and hypertension).
Australia will be supporting a network of NCD primary care nurses and health officers to run programs that will help prevent these lifestyle related diseases and assist people with the diseases and their complications in a community setting.
Since 2008, Australian-funded medical professionals have also been providing vital surgical services and an echo-cardiology service. They have screened more than 11,000 primary school children, leading to the early identification of 611 cases of rheumatic heart disease and 88 cases of congenital heart disease.
The King of Tonga, His Majesty King George Tupou V, accompanied the Governor-General during her school visit in Nuku'alofa. They had the opportunity to watch two classes in English and Mathematics using curriculum material and other teaching resources provided through Australian and New Zealand funding.
The Australian and New Zealand governments have been assisting the Ministry of Education through the Tonga Education Support Program. A new primary school curriculum for years 1-6 was introduced in January 2011 to all government primary schools in Tonga for Maths, Science, English and Tongan. This included distributing 70,500 pupil workbooks.
School grants have also assisted 150 schools to improve class room facilities for primary and secondary school children.