Women in Fiji will soon have access to better health services for the treatment of cervical cancer thanks to Australia's donation this week.

Through the Fiji Health sector Support Program, AusAID donated a diathermy machine that will assist health workers detect early stages of cervical cancer in the island nation.

Margaret Vuiyasawa, acting Senior Program Manager of AusAID and Bilateral Health officer, highlighted on Wednesday the significance of the donation in detecting and treating cervical cancer.

"At least 120 women develop cervical cancer and at least 60 die from the disease every year," Vuiyasawa said, "This equipment will complement the services of the ministry of health and will provide services to close to 800 women with a continuous pap smear tests and community outreach."

"Cervical cancer is a serious disease which women die from at a young age. However, with the availability of the machines we are able to have functional screening to detect the disease and treatment will be available," said acting Consultant Obstetrician Doctor Romanu Turaganiwai.

The total cost of the equipment donated is around $90,000 with the remaining equipment expected to arrive in the country later this year, Fiji's Ministry of Information said in a statement.

According to reports of local newspaper Fiji Times, the highest number of deaths in Fiji's women is caused by cervical cancer, followed by breast cancer.

World Health Organization's figures showed that the incidence of cancer in Fiji is about 129 per 100,000 people.