The University of the South Pacific (USP), in partnership with Marsh, the University’s medical insurance broker, Hope Clinic and the 10,000 Toes Campaign Fiji, has hosted a series of free health screenings across its Fiji and regional campuses to support the wellbeing of staff.
Screenings have already been completed at the Laucala, Labasa, Lautoka and Tuvalu campuses.
The initiative aims to identify non-communicable disease (NCD) risks early and encourage staff to take proactive steps towards better health, truly reflecting USP’s guiding principle of “Empowering People, Enriching USP.”
Teams from Hope Clinic have been mobilised to service all USP staff, offering a comprehensive range of checks and consultations.
The screenings include tests for blood sugar, blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), total body fat percentage, bone density, visceral fat, body water, daily calorie intake (DCI), metabolic age, pulse and, depending on the results, cholesterol levels.
To ensure staff understand their results, Hope Clinic is conducting group consultations of around ten participants at a time. During these sessions, health professionals explain what the numbers mean and provide guidance on healthy target ranges, while the actual screenings continue in parallel.
Staff found to be at high risk are referred to hospitals for further medical care. In addition, Hope Clinic will compile a “Pulse Report” summarising the overall health status of USP staff and present the findings to the University’s Executive team.
Agnes Kotoisuva, Executive Director, People and Workforce Strategy, said the initiative reflects USP’s commitment to promoting wellness in the workplace.
“By providing accessible health checks, we hope to empower our staff to take charge of their wellbeing and prevent lifestyle-related illnesses,” she said.
“This is more than just a one-off event, it is part of USP’s broader strategy to embed health and wellbeing into our workplace culture, and in support of this, the Human Resources team has allocated one hour from the working week for staff to participate in Health and Wellness activities.
“Non-communicable diseases remain one of the Pacific’s greatest health challenges, and early detection is key. Through these screenings, we are giving our staff the tools and information they need to make informed choices about their health. This aligns strongly with our core vision because a healthy, engaged workforce is essential to the success of our University and the communities we serve.”
The screenings are managed by Hope Clinic and delivered by trained volunteers from the 10,000 Toes Campaign Fiji. Hope Clinic is also supplying all necessary glucose testing strips and lancets.
Staff will have the option to sign up for follow-up services, including personalised or group wellness programmes, ensuring long-term support for healthier lifestyles.
USP encourages all staff to make the most of this opportunity to monitor their health and gain valuable insights into their wellbeing.
The next round of screenings is scheduled for the Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu campuses.
