A spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Fiji says up to half the population does not have access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Dr Lepani Waqatakirewa told a meeting of Fiji's Medical Association that access to safe water remains a serious problem in the country that need to be addressed urgently.
At the same time , he said more had to be done to improve sewage systems in rural villages.
The Daily Post quotes Dr Waqatakirewa as saying it was important that more was done to create an awareness of how diseases can be prevented.