Medical Services Pacific was established to enable Pacific women and adolescents to have greater access to quality health care services and to build resilience in vulnerable groups to cope with emerging environmental and economic challenges. MSP teams have over a decade of experience in implementing a range of programs in the Pacific and regularly provide health care and community-based advisory services to communities and government level stakeholders across Fiji, in both rural and urban contexts. In Fiji, MSP works under a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health, Fiji Police Force and the UNFPA, and has a working relationship with leading Climate Change consultants.
MSP has the MSP Technical Support Group consisting of senior scientists and researchers. The group has research and policy expertise in climate change adaptation, economic modelling and integrated water management planning and aims to present innovative approaches to addressing regional climate change and water management challenges. Coupled with MSP’s longstanding experience and reputation in the Pacific, MSP-Technical Services is well positioned to provide excellent service that is relevant to the needs of a wide range of community and agency stakeholders.
MSP can provide technical support services that include vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning for populations vulnerable to climate change in the Pacific, through its linkages with universities, partner consulting groups and “friends of MSP” and the MSP Technical Servies group. The latter is a network of medical and scientific professionals around the world that volunteer their time to assist MSP. MSP strives to work in partnership with governments and schools (under a developing curriculum) to ensure vulnerable groups are aware of the impacts of climate change and are able to develop adaptation.
MSP has a policy and positioning paper on climate change and adaption in the Pacific which guides project design and interventions; as those engaged in climate change decision-making regionally are not accustomed, generally, to thinking about reproductive health –and how reproductive health can affect women’s empowerment and population growth, and how SRH should be considered and is meaningful in climate change responses and planning.
Pacific island countries are already experiencing the severe impacts of climate change and rising sea levels are expected to threaten vital infrastructure, settlements and facilities that support the livelihood of island communities (IPCC 20072). On many Pacific Islands more than 50 percent of the population lives within 1.5 km of the shore and international airports, roads and capital cities are sited along the coast, ensuring that Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are recognized to be among the most vulnerable in the world. The World Bank estimates that the costs of natural disasters such as cyclone damage and high tides, was over US$2.8 billion in the 1990s. The incidence and severity of these events is expected to increase and strongly impact the health sector (World Bank 2006).
Climate change impacts all economic and social sectors and the cost of adaptation is disproportionately high, relative to GDP, for Pacific Island Countries (PICs). In attempting to mainstream adaptation strategies into their sustainable development agendas, small islands will be confronted by many challenges including insufficient resources and public awareness, isolation, lack of disaster preparedness planning or warning systems, equity considerations and uncertainties over climate change projections. Given the likely impact of climate change on the health and well being of families and especially women (e.g. higher incidence of disease, economic pressures often contribute to increased rates domestic violence and violence against women and girls). MSP incorporates climate change adaptation approaches into its long term development planning. For inquiries, please contact info@msp.org.fj