Fiji’s efforts to eliminate cervical cancer have been highlighted in a new Commonwealth report as a model for other small island developing states, particularly in the areas of school-based HPV vaccination, self-screening and community outreach.
The report, Cervical Cancer Elimination Across the Commonwealth, said Fiji’s experience demonstrated the importance of integrating new health services into existing systems rather than creating parallel programmes.
It noted that Fiji had successfully embedded HPV vaccination into the national school immunisation programme, helping the country consistently achieve vaccination coverage of 90 per cent or higher.
The report described the approach as a “plug-and-play” strategy that could be replicated across Pacific, Caribbean and African Commonwealth countries with established school health systems.
The Commonwealth also highlighted Fiji’s HPV “screen-and-treat” pilot programme, which used HPV DNA testing and self-collection methods to dramatically increase screening coverage.
According to the report, self-sampling helped overcome major barriers such as shortages of healthcare providers and cultural sensitivities surrounding pelvic examinations.
“This model reduces reliance on laboratory infrastructure, shortens turnaround times and enables same-day care,” the report stated.
The study said Fiji’s pilot programme particularly benefited rural women who often struggled to return for follow-up appointments.
However, the report also identified major ongoing challenges.
It said HPV DNA screening in Fiji still relied heavily on external funding, while screening services in other divisions continued to face disruptions caused by shortages of equipment and consumables.
The Commonwealth further warned that Fiji’s health data systems remained fragmented, limiting the country’s ability to monitor trends and measure programme performance effectively.
Another major concern raised was the absence of in-country radiotherapy services, which forces women with advanced cervical cancer to seek treatment overseas, often resulting in delays or incomplete treatment.
The report also highlighted equity gaps, noting that iTaukei women and women living in rural and maritime areas faced greater barriers to prevention, screening and treatment.
It recommended stronger community partnerships, culturally appropriate outreach and regional collaboration on radiotherapy services to help Fiji and other small states achieve cervical cancer elimination goals.
