Tonga Maintains COVID-Free Status as Grassroots Campaigns Strengthen Community Preparedness

10 Dec Tonga Maintains COVID-Free Status as Grassroots Campaigns Strengthen Community Preparedness

2021/04/07 – Tonga remains one of the few Pacific Island nations with no recorded cases of COVID-19, a distinction attributed to rigorous border controls, the vigilance of health-care front-liners, and the coordinated efforts of local organizations working tirelessly throughout the global pandemic.

In late March, Tonga received 24,000 vaccine doses through the COVAX facility, marking a critical step in strengthening national preparedness. Yet officials say that vaccination alone is not enough. Sustained community awareness and hygiene practices remain essential to preventing an outbreak in a country with limited health-care capacity.

Since 2020, MORDI Tonga has led a series of hygiene and sanitation awareness campaigns aimed at equipping communities with accurate information and practical tools to reduce the risk of transmission. The organization has partnered with the Tonga Police, the Tonga National Youth Congress, Caritas, and the Church of Tonga to deliver hand-washing stations to 62 community police posts across the country.

These efforts have been supported by printed educational materials and capacity-building workshops delivered by MORDI Tonga staff. The most recent round of training began with officers at the Halafakalotomua and Nahakalau community police stations in Lapaha, followed by two stations in Ha‘ateiho, as well as Makapaeo and Lomaiviti community police posts.

More resources and training sessions are scheduled to be rolled out to additional communities in the weeks following the Easter holiday. The continued outreach reflects a broader national commitment: ensuring that even the most remote villages remain informed, prepared, and protected as the pandemic evolves globally.