The Chief Dental Officer, Dr Sisilia Fifita, spoke on the success of Tonga’s Malimali Project while attending the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (WPRO) in Manila, Philippines.
This year’s meeting, held from October 21 to 25, 2024, covers pressing topics such as universal health coverage, climate-resilient health systems, noncommunicable diseases, health financing, and digital health. Dr. Siale ‘Akauola, Minister for Health, was also present at the meeting.
During the session, Dr. Sisilia Fifita highlighted Tonga’s Malimali Project, an initiative that has become a model for improving child oral health. Established in 1999, Malimali focuses on reducing childhood dental caries and promoting lifelong oral health habits.
Initial enrollment was minimal at 0.3% but surged to 99% by 2011, with caries rates among children dropping from 90% in 2001 to 68% a decade later.
“These numbers are a testament to Malimali’s impact on Tonga’s future generations,” Dr. Fifita said.
Today, nearly all primary schools in Tonga participate in the Malimali program, which is now embedded in school curricula, ensuring sustainable oral health education. Run entirely by local Tongan staff, the program not only fosters community ownership but also reduces dependency on external resources, making it one of Tonga’s most sustainable health initiatives.
Dr. Akauola emphasized that the Malimali Project aligns well with discussions at the WHO summit, particularly around equitable access to healthcare and preventive health strategies.
As health leaders in the Western Pacific focus on tackling urgent challenges, Tonga’s Malimali Project offers a successful example of a community-based approach that could inform similar programs across the region.
