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Tonga to introduce HIV and syphilis 15 minutes diagnosis kit

By
Kaniva Staff
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A new smartphone app that tests blood samples for HIV and syphilis in just 15 minutes will be piloted in Tonga in September.

The software, developed by biomedical experts at Columbia University, analyses blood samples taken with a finger-prick dongle, Daily Mail reports.

The kit, which attaches to any smartphone or computer, replicates a lab test and can give a diagnosis in the field in just 15 minutes.

“The device is nearly 540 times cheaper than current lab testing machines, and has already been tested on patients in Rwanda during a pilot study”.

“Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist Dr. Ma’ake Tupou is currently facilitating a one-day training at the Tanoa Hotel aiming to train Medical Officers and Nurses on the new kit”, a Ministry of Health statement says.

Dr. Tupou said the kit will be useful in isolated places which have no laboratories, like the Niuas.

”There are four major Hospitals in Tonga, these hospitals have labs but with places like the Niuas who do not have one, this kit will be very useful.”

The test kit will be available for anyone who needs screening for HIV and Syphilis.

“Routine Health Test, like the Antenatal Clinic, Public Servant Health Test, Travel Health Test which normally includes HIV/Syphilis tests, starting next month the new kit will be used, instead of going to the lab and we invite anyone that need screening for HIV and Shyphis to come along,’’ Dr. Tupou said.

Four other Pacific countries which will take part in the pilot programme included Kiribati, Palau, Samoa and Vanuatu.

The project is funded under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through Multi-Country Western Pacific Programme to improve the public health response to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Four Tongan public servants awarded Japan scholarship

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Four Tongan public servants have left for Japan this week to study on scholarships.

The students were:

  • Malia Hola – Principal Assistant Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office
  • Tracy Aisea – Fisheries Officer, Ministry of Fisheries
  • Tilisa Tohi – Food Auditor, Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Forestry
  • Saimone Manu – Assistant Research Scientist, Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Forestry

Their field of studies will cover areas about Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change; the Environment; Sustainable Development, Oceans, Maritime issues, and Fisheries; Trade, Investment, Tourism; and the Economic Policy, a statement says.

“During the official function for welcoming the Pacific LEADS Participants, His Excellency Mr. Numata congratulated all participants and expressed his gratitude for the continuous collaboration amongst others which indicated another excellent result of four young Tongans selected to participate in the P-LEADS 2nd batch”

The President of JICA Alumni Association Mr. Vaʻinga Palu thanked his Excellency Mr. Numata for the award.

He also urged the participants to study hard, behave themselves and become good ambassadors for Tonga while in Japan.

Baby found dead in bucket of water sparks negligence concern

By
Kalino Latu
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The death of a 13-month-old baby girl in Maʻufanga on Monday 21 has sparked negligence concern.

Police alleged the cause of death was an apparent drowning after the baby’s body  was found in a bucket of water.

The baby died while she was rushed to hospital, local media report.

An investigation was underway while Police were awaiting medical report.

The incident took its toll on parents who called Radio Tonga Broadcom talkback show on Tuesday.

Some callers wanted to know what the law says about child neglect while others said they wanted to make sure Police would hold those responsible for the incident accountable.

The callers concern became heated after it has been revealed a five-year-old child went missing at the Fāʻonelua park on Monday 14.

It has been alleged the child was told to stay at the park while their parent left for an outlet.

No further details were available regarding that case and it was not immediately clear whether it was referred to Police or not.

Business Council dinner

By
Philip Cass
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The New Zealand Tonga Business Council will host a Tonga National Day dinner on November 2.

The function will celebrate Tongan business excellence.

The event will be held at Alexandra Park, from 6pm.

The New Zealand Tonga Business Council (NZTBC) was established in 2010 with the aim of developing relations between New Zealand and Tonga.

A Business Council delegation visited Nuku’alofa in February.

Delegates were told renewable energy and energy storage, tourism and agriculture were potential targets for investors in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Business Council Chairman Sione Taufa said renewable energy and energy storage was a potential area for investment because of the government’s plan to generate half Tonga’s energy from renewable sources by 2020.

The  main points

  • The New Zealand Tonga Business Council will host a Tonga National Day dinner on November 2.
  • The event will be held at Alexandra Park, from 6pm.

Tongan missionaries believe change of plan saved them from fatal Taupo crash

By
Kalino Latu
-

Tongan missionaries who drove to Hastings in New Zealand believe a change of plan to refill their vehicle after their Sunday service saved them from a fatal crash near Taupo

Stewart James Niwa Vercoe, 43, of Hastings died in a crash on State Highway 5, Te Haroto, at about 4:20pm on Sunday, Police said.

Emergencies services, including a rescue helicopter, were called to the scene.

“Two other people were also taken to hospital in a critical condition. A further two people have moderate injuries”, Police said.

Nāmoe Sau Vea’ila, her husband Rev. Viliami Sēlupe Vea’ila, Hala’api’api Langoia, the Chief Church Steward of ‘Ōtahuhu Free Wesleyan Church and his wife Senita and the driver, who was also a church steward, travelled from South Auckland to Hastings to lead a prayer service there.

While in Hastings they agreed that Nāmoe and Senita would go to the petrol station and refill their vehicle before the services began, so they could leave for Auckland straight after the service.

However, Nāmoe changed the plan and said they could refill the vehicle on their way back.

On their return to Auckland they watched in horror as an oncoming vehicle was involved in a collision with another vehicle in front of them.

Nāmoe said the crash occurred “about six cars from us”.

She said they prayed and thanked God, believing they were the ones who might have been involved in the collision if they had gone ahead with their plan to refill their vehicle early.

Nāmoe said she was really shocked immediately after the crash.

They tried to call their families in Auckland to inform them that they were safe, but there was no network in the area.

She said they met some Tongan travellers near the scene while they were waiting for the road to be cleared.

Vercoe’s death brought the region’s road toll, from Wairoa to Tararua, up to 16; three more than the total number of fatalities for the region last year.

The main points

  • Tongan missionaries who drove to Hastings in New Zealand believe a change of plan to refill their vehicles after their Sunday service saved them from a fatal crash near Taupo
  • Stewart James Niwa Vercoe, 43, of Hastings died in a crash on State Highway 5, Te Haroto, at about 4:20pm on Sunday Police said.
  • Namoe Vea’ila said the crash occurred “about six cars from us.”

Real Tonga flight forced to return after fire engine breaks down on runway in Vava’u

By
Kalino Latu
-

A Real Tonga Airline flight had to return to Fua’amotu International Airport this morning after the fire engine at the Vava’u airport had broken down on the runway.

A Real Tonga spokesperson who confirmed the incident to Kaniva News said it was the airline’s Flight 8801 MA60 to Lupepau’u International Airport.

“Today, or flight 8801 MA60, had to return to Tongatapu due fire truck broken down in runway at Vava’u”, he said.

He said 41 passengers were on board while 28 were waiting to board the aircraft in Vava’u.

“All delayed”.

The spokesperson also said: “One passenger missed flight connection and we are accommodating and paying meals”.

Most Haʻapai adults cut off from financial system, says new Reserve Bank report

By
Philip Cass
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Most of the adult residents of Ha’apai are completely cut off from Tonga’s financial system, according to a Reserve Bank report.

The figure emerged during a national survey of how people in the kingdom’s financial system work.

Run by the Reserve Bank and the Pacific Financial Inclusion Program, the Financial Services Demand Side Survey showed that just over a third of Tongan adults are completely cut off from the financial system.

Alongside Ha’apai residents, those most likely to be excluded from the financial system included low income and casual income earners.

The survey’s other major findings were that fewer than half of Tongan adults had a bank account.

It found that 14% of those surveyed only had access to limited services through savings clubs, shop credit, moneylenders, or hire purchases.

Nearly three quarters of those surveyed said they received remittances in the previous 12 months.

Most Tongan adults, with the exception of public servants, are paid in cash and shop and pay bills in cash.

Nearly two thirds of adults said they saved towards everyday expenses and social obligations, rather than for long term goals.

Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu have already conducted similar surveys.

The Tongan report put the kingdom on a par with other Pacific nations, particularly Samoa.

The main points

  • Most of the adult residents of Ha’apai are completely cut off from Tonga’s financial system, according to a Reserve Bank report.
  • The figure emerged during a national survey of how people in the kingdom’s financial system.
  • The report showed that just over a third of Tongan adults were completely cut off from the financial system.
  • Alongside Ha’apai residents, those most likely to be excluded from the financial system included low income and casual income earners.

Tonga to receive new patrol boats under maritime security scheme

By
Philip Cass
-

Tonga will receive new patrol boats from Australia.

The new patrol boats are being donated under the Pacific Maritime Security programme.

The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in late 2018.

The other countries to receive the new patrol boats are the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Tonga and other Pacific nations were given Pacific class patrol boats in the 1990s.

Speaking at the Pacific Foreign Affairs Minister’s meeting in Suva, Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said the boats would be used to combat increasing rates of transnational crimes in the region.

Drug smuggling, people trafficking and illegal fishing were serious problems for the island nations.

Bishop said Island nations needed more resources to fight illegal fishing, drug trafficking and human trafficking.

The Foreign Minister said she would table a proposal for a regional peace keep force at next month’s next month’s Pacific Forum Leader’s meeting in Samoa.

This would be similar to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) force which was sent to the Solomon Islands in July 2003 in response to the civil war.

The main points

  • Tonga will receive new patrol boats from Australia.
  • The new patrol boats are being donated under the Pacific Maritime Security programme.
  • The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in late 2018.
  • Tonga and other Pacific nations were given Pacific class patrol boats in the 1990s.

For more information 

Australia provides 19 new patrol boats to Pacific island region 

Crash in Onehunga has brought power lines down blocking road

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A crash has occurred at the intersection of Captain Springs Road and Neilson Street in Onehunga, Auckland at about 5.25pm tonight.

A driver collided with a power pole, which is now on a lean and the pole will take at least four hours to be fixed.

The road will be closed while this is being done.

Cordons are in place, so motorists are advised to take alternate routes, or delay travel.

Police thank motorists for their patience.

Graphic image: Horrifying video of an old man viciously punched in a kava club in Sydney sparks outrage

By
Kalino Latu
-

A video which showed the horrifying moment a man repeatedly punched an older guest in the head in a Kava club in Sydney has sparked outrage online.

It appeared the attack happened after a heated exchange of words broke out between them.

Sources who spoke with Kaniva News said the violent incident happened on Friday night at one of the Tongan kava clubs in the suburb of Rooty Hill.

They claimed the old man was drunk and was swearing before he was attacked.

The video showed the old man sitting holding a cup of kava while talking with somebody.

The man then appeared to launch himself at the old man, trying to hold his head with his left hand while punching the old man on the side and top of the head with his right hand.

A man who was sitting with the old man grabbed him in what appeared to be an unsuccessful attempt to protect him from the attack.

The man kept punching the old man while he was clutching his head and trying to hide his face against the floor.

No one helped or stopped the attacker. Some of the kava drinkers just begged the man from their seats to stop it, warning that the old man could be injured.

They also reminded the attacker that he was attacking an elderly.

Many Facebook users condemned the attacker and labelled him as rude, impudent and impertinent.

Kava sessions have always been seen as a place for fun and discipline where young people are reminded to respect older people no matter what shortfalls they may have.

The video was uploaded to Facebook by Tale Saulala, but he quickly removed it after commentators posted threatening messages and called on him to delete it.

However, the video had already been shared hundreds of times by other Facebook users and received thousands of reactions and likes.

In one share the video received more than 70,000 views.

Some commentators threatened to hurt the attacker.

The main points

  • A video which showed the horrifying moment a man repeatedly punched an old man in the head in a Kava club in Sydney has sparked outrage online.
  • It appeared the attack happened after a heated exchange of words broke out between them.
  • Sources who spoke with Kaniva News said the violent incident happened on Friday night at one of the Tongan kava clubs in the suburb of Rooty Hill.
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