Two Government agencies are setting up a $1.6 million fund to find ways to improve the health of Pacific communities.
The fund is a joint venture between the Health Research Council and the Ministry of Health, in response to high rates of obesity, diabetes and respiratory illness.
Pacific health clinical director Api Talemaitoga says years of research into the problems have not led to effective programmes and the fund aims to bridge that gap.
Dr Talemaitoga says the project will fund several research teams to identify practical changes that will make a difference.
