Our work in Niue

The Pacific Islands–WHO Multi-country Cooperation Strategy 2024–2029, or MCCS, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) through a consultative process involving 21 Pacific Island countries and areas (PICs), outlines WHO’s comprehensive and tailored medium-term support plan in the Pacific. This summary provides an overview of the MCCS, highlighting its alignment with regional and global health strategies.

The Niue Foou Hospital serves as the primary and secondary health-care facility on the island, providing a range of services including public health, environmental health, and maternal and child health programmes. The hospital is well-equipped given the island’s small population and remote location. It has a core staff to provide essential services. Tertiary care is provided via transfers to New Zealand and an emergency evacuation service, complemented with annual visits from New Zealand-based specialists.

Niue, like many other Pacific island countries and areas, suffers from a tsunami of NCDs, with diabetes, stroke and cancers leading, as well as high rates of obesity (61%) and hypertension (33.5%).

Niue’s current service delivery model promotes a treatment-based approach, and more needs to be done to promote disease prevention and healthy living. The ability of the health sector to provide effective services is further challenged by a declining health workforce and an increasingly ageing work population.