A detailed-oriented professional with a substantial experience in leading strategic public health initiatives globally, and providing high-quality capacity building to meet program objectives, Dr. Temo Waqanivalu has played a key role in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) programs of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), health promotion, and nutrition and physical activity. He is well-versed in identifying healthcare trends, and incorporating value-based care approaches to promote better health. Dr. Temo Waqanivalu has remarkable efficiency in facilitating healthcare instructional programs, optimizing performance, and coordinating closely with internal and external stakeholders. His areas of expertise include strategic planning, policy development & implementation, health capacity building, international program management, epidemiology and information, and healthcare management.
Securing funds and led charge for first-ever guidance on integration of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) into health systems has been one of the key initiatives of Dr. Temo Waqanivalu when he headed Integrated Service Delivery Unit of the Noncommunicable Disease (NCD) Department of WHO HQ, Geneva, CH 2020. He introduced and grew first global group of Heads of State and Government for NCD, as well as fostered several Heads of State to attend the first meeting and make commitments. He also allocated resources totaling 158M € for 116 nations, including 79 African, Carribean, and Pacific Group of States for health system strengthening to deliver NCD programs. Dr. Temo Waqanivalu also engaged 500 to 700 global participants per month for thought leadership on NCD on NCD HardTalks platform.
Team Lead at WHO
Mentoring all facets of diet and physical, activities and facilitating global leaderships to prevent NCDs has been one of the key responsibilities of WHO Dr. Temo Waqanivalu during his stint as Team Lead, Diet & Physical Activity at Prevention of NCD, WHO HQ, Geneva CH 2014-19. He together with others designed the first Global Physical Activity Guidelines, and technical packages on salt and sugar-sweetened beverages as per reduction and fiscal policy guidance. He provided technical support on Diet and Physical Activity programs in 30 countries, and spearheaded “Walk the Talk” program for healthy lifestyle, covering up to 17,000 WHO staff members globally. The Walk The Talk program also involved development of healthy public policies in WHO like encouragement of use of stairs instead of elevators, removal of sugary beverages from vending machines and instalment of water fountains within buildings.
Highly Educated Medical Professional
Being a highly educated and accomplished medical professional, Dr. Temo Waqanivalu has contributed many research papers in reputed medical journals. In his paper submitted in BMC Health Services Research on integrated service delivery, Dr. Temo Waqanivalu presents a scoping review of models for noncommunicable disease and mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries. In his research paper published in BMJ Global Health, Dr. Temo Waqanivalu writes about implementation research steps to guide and support non-communicable disease national planning in low and middle-income countries. Dr Temo Waqanivalu did his undergraduate medical education at the Fiji School of medicine in Fiji, a Master’s in Public Health from University of Jerusalem in Israel and is a Fellow of Faculty of Public Health, Royal Colleges of Physicians, UK.
Dr. Temo Waqanivalu is a natural leader and finds himself serving this role in his community involvement as well as professional ones. He has been a leading Member of WHO Global Staff Health and Wellbeing Committee of the WHO globally. He served as the President of the Fiji Medical Association, President of Medical Students association and other community groups he has been involved with.