Solomone Rabulu, fijitimes.com

Image from, with caption: Youth Participants Meet in Fiji for the First Youth TechCamp in the Pacific

Health officials from Fiji and the Pacific gathered in in New Zealand last month to learn the importance of working together to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

University of Otago division of health assistant project manager Sarah Jutel said the event was run by the university in collaboration with the Pacific Community (SPC) and made possible with funding from the US Embassy in New Zealand.

"It was a two-day interactive technology-focused workshop in the area of vector-borne diseases in the Pacific region organised by TechCamp," Ms Jutel said.

"TechCamp is a US Department of State public diplomacy program workshop which applies technology solutions to global issues and challenges around the world.

"We provided an opportunity to bring together international experts in the control of vector-borne diseases with key staff working in the area of vector-borne diseases in the Pacific region, including Fiji, the Cook Islands, Palau, PNG, Samoa and Tonga, as well as New Zealand."

Ms Jutel said the technology-focused workshop also aimed to support organisational capacity and strengthen innovation, solutions and communication around mosquito-borne diseases, including Zika and dengue in the Pacific.

"Pacific nations are well placed to control and mitigate such diseases because of their geographical containment," Ms Jutel said

"The approaches explored through this event will provide opportunities for strengthening co-ordinated efforts among Pacific nations."