Two Tongan defence health professionals have strengthened regional health preparedness at a major Indo-Pacific workshop.
Captain Dr Semisi Latu and Dr Joseph Takai represented His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) and Tonga at the Indo-Pacific Health Security Alliance (IPhsa) meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from 6–8 May. The event, co-hosted by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Australian Defence Force, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, convened over 150 delegates from 15 nations, NGOs, and international agencies.
Under the theme “Health Security is National Security: Civil-Military Collaboration Against Health Threats,” participants engaged in exercises to strengthen interagency coordination and disaster response. The forum addressed challenges such as climate change, disease outbreaks, and supply chain disruptions.
Air Commodore Nicole dos Santos of the Australian Defence Force highlighted the forum’s significance: “The IPhsa meeting has allowed for valuable discussion with security and health sector experts from PNG, the US, and from across the Indo-Pacific region. Addressing the scale and complexity of health security challenges can be more effective when we collaborate on solutions and learn from each other’s experiences.”
Tonga’s participation shows its commitment to regional health security and the importance of civil-military partnerships in addressing emerging health threats.
