May 2020, Pacific
Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic for Food Security in the Pacific
Gibson Susumu
In this blog, Gibson Susumu reflects on the response to COVID-19 pandemic for food security in the Pacific.
The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) face numerous developmental challenges. Climate change and food security have been identified as priority development agendas in the Pacific[1]. In addition, the Pacific Leaders at its 49th Pacific Leaders Forum (Nauru, 2018) recognised that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Pacific region are reaching pandemic levels to become the leading cause of deaths (70%), with unhealthy diets contributing to the highest risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes induced deaths in the Pacific[2]
