Rennell and Bellona Provincial Health Workers and Stakeholders Healthy Settings Advocacy and Mobilization workshop

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), through the National Health Promotion Department, successfully conducted a Provincial Healthy Settings Advocacy and Mobilization programme for Rennell and Bellona Province from 28 September to 1 October 2026.

The Provincial Healthy Settings Advocacy and Mobilization aims to strengthen provincial leadership, policy commitment, and community action in implementing the national Healthy Settings policy and related initiatives across the province.

The programme objectives is to equip participants with the Healthy setting knowledge, raise awareness among provincial leaders, government departments, partners and stakeholders and communities, on how to work collaboratively to support the implementation of the Healthy Settings approach and its initiatives in the province.

A key focus of the programme was to advocate for the integration of Healthy Settings initiatives to be priorities into Provincial Development Plans and relevant sectoral policies. It also aimed to strengthen the capacity of provincial health officers, the Provincial Healthy Settings Coordinating Committee, stakeholders, community leaders, and local authorities to plan, implement, and monitor Healthy Settings interventions.

Furthermore, the programme sought to strengthen multisectoral partnerships among the health, education, and environment sectors, as well as the provincial government and other relevant stakeholders, to support Healthy Settings initiatives at the ward and community levels.

Through this initiative, the HP department, MHMS will continues to work closely with provinces and stakeholders to coordinate healthy setting activities focusing on community driven and people centered to promote healthy behaviour, practices and clean safe environment.

National Healthy Settings Coordinator, Mr Selwyn Warito, encouraged participants to actively engage in the training and equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively and efficiently implement the Healthy Settings approach.

Mr Warito thanked the Health Promotion (HP) team in Renbel Province for organizing the important training for provincial health workers and supporting the rollout of the Healthy Settings programme.

Dr. Thomas Meke, Health Director for Renbel Province, thanked the National Health Promotion team for conducting the training, noting that the essential knowledge and practical skills gained would strengthen the capacity of health workers, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to support coordinated, people-centred interventions. He said these efforts would help promote healthy behaviours, strengthen primary health care delivery, and improve health and wellbeing across communities and other settings.

“Understanding the basis of this approach will surely reinforce our commitment to working together to advance the Healthy Settings agenda and ensure that our communities are empowered to lead positive change,” Dr. Meke said.

Speaking on behalf of the participant Provincial Health Administration, Mr Troy Panda encouraged health workers to make the most of the training, noting that they would be responsible for rolling out the Healthy Settings programme across different settings in the province, including villages, schools, markets and workplaces.

Mr Panda emphasized that Renbel Province continues to face a number of health -issues that require attention. He said using the Healthy Settings platform to strengthen delivering Primary Health Care services directly to communities would be helpful to address these challenges, improve health outcomes and contribute to a healthier population across the province.

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