Reflect Fiji Project 2026

09/09/2026

🌿 Welcome to the REFLECT Fiji Team, Mere Usatani! 🌿

We are pleased to welcome Mere Usatani from Nubu, Macuata, to the REFLECT Fiji team as a Research Assistant.

Mere graduated with a Bachelor of Public Health from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Fiji National University in 2023. Since 2024, she has been part of the Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research (FIPHR), contributing to two major research projects under the Centre for Communicable Diseases Research (CDRC) — the nationwide COVID-19 Serosurvey in 2024 and the Arboviral Serosurvey in the Central Division in 2025.

With years of hands-on fieldwork experience, Mere brings with her valuable knowledge, practical skills and experience working with communities across Fiji.

We are excited to have you join us, Mere! Welcome to REFLECT Fiji — we look forward to having you as part of the team and to the contribution you will make to the project. 🌱☀️🇫🇯

09/09/2026

Today, we are proud to introduce Mr Noa Ravunibaka, a young Fijian health professional from Yalava Village, Macuata, whose journey is a wonderful reminder of what determination, opportunity and hard work can achieve.

Noa graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science from the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Fiji National University. Shortly after graduating, he joined the REFLECT Fiji Trial Project as a Research Assistant, based in Tavua.

From working in the field and engaging with communities to supporting participant recruitment, data collection and research activities, Noa has embraced every opportunity to learn and contribute.

And then came a very special moment.

🏆 At the Pacific Islands Health Research Symposium (PIHRS) 2026, Noa was awarded the BEST ORAL PRESENTATION for his research presentation.

Perhaps what makes it even more special is that this is only the beginning.

Noa represents a new generation of Fijian researchers — young professionals who are not only working in health services, but are stepping forward to generate evidence, ask important questions and contribute to solving the health challenges facing our communities.

We are incredibly proud of you, Noa. ❤️

Congratulations, Noa! 🏆👏🏽🇫🇯

The REFLECT Fiji team is proud to have you with us.

From a young graduate to an emerging researcher. And this is only the beginning. 🌱🔬🇫🇯

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

🏆 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR VERY OWN REFLECT FIJI PROJECT TEAM! 🎉👏

A huge congratulations to Mr Taniela Raileqe, Mr Noa Ravunibaka, and Ms Reapi Seru for representing the REFLECT Fiji Project at the 2026 Pacific Island Health Research Symposium (PIHRS) and winning Best Oral Presentation under the theme “Climate, Emergency, Environment and Planetary Health.” 🌏🌡️

Your hard work, dedication, and confidence in presenting our research have made the entire REFLECT Fiji team incredibly proud.

A special vinaka vakalevu to Taniela, Noa, and Reapi for your outstanding effort and for showcasing the work of our project team on such an important platform.

This achievement belongs to the whole team. Well done! 🏆👏🇫🇯

REFLECT Fiji — shining a light on climate, heat and health. 🌏

Ràvunny Bàkà NoàhDan NB Raileqe Reapi SeruMere Usatani SauwakiSalote UluinabouChloe RavunisaAditini KijiAisake MalupoLavo TuilauFiji Institute of Pacific Health ResearchMinistry of Health & Medical Services - Fiji

25/08/2026

Appreciation to the REFLECT Fiji Team 🙌🏽

A big vinaka vakalevu to our dedicated REFLECT Fiji team for continuing the HbA1c testing today, ensuring that our participants are not left behind and that every follow-up is completed with care. Your commitment, patience, and hard work in the field—despite the challenges—continue to make this project possible. ❤️

Vinaka vakalevu, team! Your dedication truly matters. 💪🏽🇫🇯

24/08/2026

The REFLECT Fiji Trial

24/08/2026

Vinaka vakalevu to the REFLECT Fiji team for continuing HbA1c testing across our 400 recruited households in eight Tavua study sites, working late and braving the wet and cold nights to reach participants who were unavailable during the initial visits, as we prepare to randomly select 200 households for this year’s cool roof intervention while the remaining 200 will receive the intervention at the end of the trial in September 2027.

24/08/2026

Appreciation to the REFLECT Fiji Team 🌡️🏠🌧️

A big vinaka vakalevu to our amazing REFLECT Fiji team for continuing the important work of HbA1c testing among our participants across the 400 households recruited in our study sites in Tavua.

Our team is now following up with participants who were unavailable during the initial study visits last month. This is an important part of making sure that every recruited participant has the necessary baseline information before we move into the next phase of the study.

We have officially achieved our recruitment target of 400 households, so recruitment of additional households and participants is now complete. 🙌🏽

Our 400 households are spread across eight study sites in Tavua:
📍 Tavualevu Village
📍 Nabuna Village
📍 Yasiyasi Settlement
📍 Korovou Village
📍 Vanuakula Village
📍 Vutuna Settlement
📍 Nadolodolo Village
📍 Toko Settlement

The next exciting phase will be the cool roof intervention. The 400 recruited households will be randomly allocated into two groups:

🏠 200 households – Intervention arm: roofs will be painted with the cool roof coating this year.

🏠 200 households – Control arm: roofs will receive the cool roof intervention at the end of the trial, expected around September 2027.

Behind these numbers are many long days and nights in the field. The team continues to work around the availability of participants, sometimes finishing late at night, while dealing with the current wet season, cold nights, rain and all the other realities that come with fieldwork.

It has not always been easy, but the commitment has remained strong.

From recruitment, household visits, measurements and HbA1c testing, to now preparing for the cool roof implementation — this is truly a team effort.

Vinaka vakalevu REFLECT Fiji team for your dedication, patience and perseverance. And a special vinaka to all our participants and communities across Tavua for continuing to support the study.

400 households recruited. 800 participants targeted. Recruitment complete. Now we prepare for the cool roof phase. 🌡️🏠🇫🇯

02/08/2026

Sir Collin Tukitonga one of the REFLECT Principal Investigator... 👏👏👏👏

🌏 We are incredibly proud to congratulate our Director, Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga, on his appointment as President-Elect of the World Obesity Federation. 🎉👏🏽

This significant international leadership appointment recognises Sir Collin’s more than 40 years of service to public health across Aotearoa New Zealand, the Pacific and globally. 🌺

In this role, he will continue to champion equitable, evidence-based approaches to obesity prevention and care, while ensuring that Pacific voices and experiences help shape global decision-making. 💙

Mālō ‘aupito and congratulations, Sir Collin - an outstanding achievement! 🎊