10 June 2026 (CKT)
he Minister of Heath Hon. Vainetutai Rose Toki Brown welcomes the Pacific Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (P-COSI) and acknowledges the ongoing support of the World Health Organization, marking an important step in strengthening the country’s response to childhood overweight and obesity. The Cook Islands has successfully completed the national training for data collectors delivered in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Te Marae Ora – Ministry of Health.
This initiative builds national capacity to collect high‑quality data on childhood overweight and obesity among children aged 6–9 years, helping to close a critical data gap and support stronger evidence‑based action to improve child health. Childhood overweight and obesity affect both short-term and long-term health for children.
“This training strengthens our national capacity to generate and use quality data to protect children’s health and drive action across schools and communities,” said Secretary of Health, Mr Bob Williams, Secretary of Health, Te Marae Ora.
After the training, national teams will now move into data collection across schools in the identified eligible group Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Pukapuka starting in June 2026. The findings from the P‑COSI implementation will guide targeted prevention and school‑based interventions, supporting healthier futures for children.
The introduction of the P‑COSI approach in the Cook Islands reflects strong collaboration across government, with Te Marae Ora leading coordination and the Ministry of Education supporting school‑based implementation. This collaboration will be critical in advancing effective interventions based on the findings of the surveys.
“With the adoption of the P-COSI approach, Cook Islands will have access to high quality locally relevant data. This is an important step in understanding the drivers of the issue of childhood overweight and obesity, and to identifying solutions which can help to improve child health,” explained Dr Wendy Snowdon, WHO Representative for the Cook Islands.
This contributes to regional efforts in the Pacific to advance the Healthy Islands Vision, and is linked with the Pacific Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO) network.
Photo by – Temarae Ora, Ministry of Health, Cook Islands.
Media contacts:
Tereapii Tumutoa
Health Promotions Manager
Tereapii Tumutoa tereapii.tumutoa@cookislands.gov.ck
Te Marae Ora, Ministry of Health Cook Island
Faizza Tanggol
Communications for Partnerships Officer
Email: tanggolf@who.int
Mobile: +685 76 43052
WHO Representative Office for Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau
ENDS.
