No child in Fiji should be held back from learning because they cannot see the board, hear their teacher or move around their school.
This was the key message from Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu as he officially launched the Unlocking Healthy Learning: Scaling Up Assistive Technology and Related Rehabilitation Services for School-Age Children, known as the SPARK Fiji programme.
Dr Lalabalavu says the US$1.6 million programme is supported by the Australian Government through ATscale and will run from 2025 to 2028.
He says the programme will target school-age children in mainstream and special schools, out-of-school settings and underserved communities.
He says the programme will address children’s vision, hearing and mobility needs, including access to spectacles, hearing aids, wheelchairs and rehabilitation services.
He adds particular attention will be given to girls and children with disabilities.
Dr Lalabalavu says SPARK Fiji will go beyond simply screening children, with support provided throughout the process, from identification and assessment to referral, diagnosis, treatment, fitting, rehabilitation and follow-up.
SPARK Fiji is a government-led initiative, with the Ministry of Health working closely with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, disability organisations, civil society and development partners.
Dr Lalabalavu says the programme will strengthen existing systems rather than create parallel structures.
He says the initiative will build on Fiji’s school health programme, rehabilitation and clinical services, as well as existing community networks.
The Minister says the programme will also strengthen workforce capacity, procurement, referral pathways, monitoring and data systems.
He says organisations of persons with disabilities, including the Fiji Disabled People's Federation, will be involved in programme decisions to ensure services are accessible and accountable.
He says groundwork will continue over the coming months, including finalising governance arrangements, strengthening coordination, completing technical mapping, validating service pathways and preparing for programme-supported screening and referral services to begin from 2027.
SPARK Fiji is part of a broader US$8.2 million investment across seven Pacific countries.
The Minister acknowledged AT-Scale, the Fred Hollows Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, the Australian Government, civil society partners, disability organisations and staff of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education for their contribution to the initiative.
Dr Lalabalavu says Fiji is reaffirming its commitment to ensuring every child can see, hear, move, learn and participate to the fullest extent possible.
ATscale CEO Pascal Bijleveld says the launch marks an important milestone in ensuring every child who needs assistive technology can access it and reach their full potential.
Bijleveld says children with vision, hearing and mobility needs across Fiji and the Pacific face significant barriers to accessing services due to geographic isolation, dispersed populations, limited specialist services and resource constraints.
He says simple interventions such as eyeglasses, hearing aids and mobility devices can transform a child’s ability to learn, participate and thrive.
He says inclusion must be at the heart of SPARK Fiji, ensuring girls, children with disabilities and those living in remote and underserved communities have equal access to the support they need.
