Nuku'alofa, Tonga: The Australian government has injected $7 million into improving the health of people in Tonga.

Australian High Commissioner in Tonga Bruce Hunt said funding would be provided to the South Pacific island's Ministry of Health over three years, the Matangi Tonga newspaper reported.

Target areas of the new Health Support Systems Program include reducing the prevalence of non-communicable disease, increasing the allocation of preventative health and improving community health care.

Tongan Health Minister Villami Tangi expressed his gratitude to Australia at the announcement of the initiative.

He said the Tongan government is committed to improving the health of the nation's people.

The new health program was one of the outcomes of the Tonga Australia Partnership for Development agreement, signed by Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd and Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele at the Pacific Island Forum in Cairns last year.