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Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015

C ommo nwe a l t h memb e r c o u n t r i e s Communicable diseases, along with maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions in Kiribati, accounted for an estimated 29 per cent of all mortality in 2008. A government paper on HIV/AIDS reported that there were an estimated 28 people living in the country with HIV in 2013. Malaria is non-endemic to Kiribati. In the period 1990–2013 tuberculosis (TB) showed an overall increase in estimated incidence, while estimated mortality (when mortality data excludes cases comorbid with HIV) remained the same. There is no data to suggest what the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses in Kiribati are. Health systems: Kiribati’s public spending on health was 8.9 per cent of GDP in 2012, equivalent to US$154 per capita. In the most recent survey, conducted in the period 1997–2010, there were 38 doctors, and 371 nurses and midwives per 100,000 people. Additionally, in 2010, 98 per cent of births were attended by qualified health staff and in 2013, 91 per cent of one-year-olds were immunised with one dose of measles. In 2012, 67 per cent of people were using an improved water source and 40 per cent had access to adequate sanitation facilities. The most recent survey, conducted between 2000 and 2011, reports that Kiribati has 21 pharmaceutical personnel per 100,000 people. Health care facilities in Kiribati are adequate for routine medical care, but extremely limited in availability and quality. As of 2006, the Kiribati health system comprised a central hospital that received referrals from three sub-divisional hospitals, more than 20 health centres and around 70 dispensaries. In 2013, the Kiribati government received funds to improve health care related to climate change, including facility refurbishment, new equipment and staff training. Tungaru Central Hospital on Tarawa provides a medical service to all the islands. Government dispensaries on all islands are equipped to handle minor ailments and injuries. Most of the pharmaceuticals in the country are obtained through pooled procurement methods, in this case known as the Fiji national bulk purchase scheme. To some degree, such programmes overcome the issues regarding poor transportation and communications, and ensure the prices paid for such a range of supplies are fair and competitive. Supplies, especially urgently needed medicines, are also donated by American pharmaceutical companies. The most recent legislation relating to mental health was last revised in 1977. Health MDGs: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mature in 2015, but monitoring of progress is ongoing due to the time it takes to collect and analyse data from each country. For Kiribati to achieve its targets for the reduction of child mortality, which form MDG 4, it should have reduced under-five deaths per 1,000 live births to 32 and increased measles immunisation to 100 per cent by 2015. In 2013 under-five mortality stood at 58 deaths per 1,000 live births and measles immunisation was at 91 per cent. Kiribati is making consistent progress towards the goal for under-five mortality, but the deaths would need to have halved between 2013 and 2015 in order for the target to be met. While the level of measles immunisation has not yet reached 100 per cent, it is less than ten per cent off this target. The country had no recorded cases of measles in 2010. Under-five mortality 100 80 60 40 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Under-five mortality per 1,000 live births 2015 MDG 4 target 80 70 60 194 Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 20 Life expectancy 1980 1990 2000 2013 Life expectancy Life expectancy in years 50 Tuberculosis: Incidence and mortality 1990 2000 2010 Mortality excluding cases comorbid with HIV (per100,000 people) Incidence of tuberculosis (per 100,000 people) – including cases comorbid with HIV 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0


Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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