Geographical Locations - Kiribati

• (Statistical) Number of Inhabitants per Doctor: 4,483
• CIA - World Factbook : Kiribati
• World Health Organisation: Kiribati

Organisations and Networks

UN and Multinational

• WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) in Manila (Philippines) - Kiribati
  - WHO - Environmental Burden of Disease: Country Profile – Kiribati

Government

Non-Government

Academic Institutions

National Policy and Related Documents

Reports, Guidelines, and Projects

• Dental Anxiety is very High in The Republic of Kiribati
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the levels of dental anxiety in Kiribati using the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS). One hundred participants between the ages of 18 and 50 years were interviewed in the capital city Tarawa. The participants rated their anxiety using DAS, with a range of possible scores between 4 (no anxiety) and 20 (maximal anxiety). One person had never been to the dentist and was excluded from analysis. 48 males and 51 females had a mean age of 30 years with a range of 18-50 years. The mean DAS was II (SD=3.9) and ranged from 4-18. Forty-two percent of the participants were anxious ie DAS13 with a mean age of 31 (SD=10.5) yrs. When examined by gender, males had a lower mean DAS of 10 compared with females who had a mean DAS of 12. The difference noted was of borderline significance (P=0.048). There was no relationship between age and anxiety. Almost one quarter (23%) had a high level of anxiety ie DAS15 with a mean age of 30 (SD=10.5) years. 21% of males and 26% of females had a high level of anxiety. A large proportion of the sampled population had moderate to high dental anxiety and were relatively young adults (approximately 30 years of age). This is an important public health problem for Kiribati. Such patients after being identified should be managed appropriately which may include behavioural and/or pharmacological therapy. These baseline studies can serve as a reference point to monitor whether dental anxiety changes over time. [author abstract] [South Pacific Studies, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp.23-30 (2007)]
• Kiribati: United Nations Development Assistance Framework (2003-2007)
  "The UNDAF, which has been endorsed by the Government of Kiribati, is a strategic planning framework for UN development operations and cooperation at the country level. It provides a basis for improved collaborative arrangements and a framework under which UN organisations will support the country’s long-term development. The UNDAF is also an instrument for promoting dialogue with the Government and the wider donor community."
• Kiribati Islands: A Situation Analysis of Children, Women and Youth
  "To address the relatively high infant and child mortality rates, [the Kiribati] Government in partnership with UNICEF have been working on: (i) capacity building for health workers and community volunteers including traditional birth attendants on issues related to childhood diseases and safe motherhood; (ii) combating immunisable diseases including Hepatitis B; [and] (iii) improving nutrition by training health workers about the importance of micronutrients, distributing Vitamin A capsules and promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six moths of a child’s life. Two other issues are of particular concern. First, the breakdown of the family support structure is having an impact on I Kiribati society, particularly on young people in South Tarawa. Tensions between traditional values and modern or western ways are causing social problems such as increase in crime, drug abuse, violence, suicide and on incidence of diseases like HIV/AIDS and Sexually transmitted infections (STI). There is high unemployment rate due to high school dropout rate and the limited employment opportunities available. This further aggravates the situation of youths in Kiribati. Second, while men dominate most of the cash work, the involvement of women in paid employment is growing. However, there is still need for more investment in facilities and infrastructure that will help women generate the cash they require to meet family and social needs. The health situation for women in Kiribati is better compared to men but with the increasing cases of non communicable diseases (NCD), there is anecdotal evidence of obesity, alcohol drinking and smoking among women. The rate of women smokers is one of the highest in the world. The most common reasons for hospitalisation for women relate to reproductive health. With proper training of health care workers, complications related to delivery or child birth has lead to fewer deaths and injuries to both mothers and infants. Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Domestic violence is common and most are not reported to proper authority as the practice is still accepted by the community." [UNICEF Pacific Office, Fiji. 2005]
• Micronesian staple foods and the "yellow varieties message"
  "The great shift from traditional foods to rice and other imported highly processed and fatty foods has been followed by serious problems of nutritionally-related diseases in the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Kiribati. For all three countries there are now serious emerging problems of Vitamin A deficiency (VAD), and chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer. Programs to promote leafy green vegetables met with limited success (they were not previously eaten). There are many varieties of the major staple foods: banana, giant swamp taro, breadfruit and pandanus. A systematic multiple-methodological participatory assessment of the nutrient content of samples of these revealed a great range of nutrient content and that those varieties with a deeper yellow flesh coloration are carotenoid-rich." [Biodiversity International]
• Nurses Development in the Republic of Kiribati
  "The nursing staff in Kiribati has lately received training in priority areas as identified by a situation analysis conducted on serving staff and sanctioned by the Ministry of Health & Medical Services through funding of the Health Improvement project by the European Union… The training programs are all aimed at enhancing performances in clinical as well as managerial roles in the outer islands of the country. The locally facilitated ones were carried after the FSM [Fiji School of Medicine] and USP [University of the South Pacific] programs were completed meaning that the facilitators have been adequately empowered." [KIR-EU Project, 2009]
• Proceedings of the Pacific Regional Consultation on Water in Small Island Countries – Country Briefing Paper: Kiribati
  Like many countries in the Pacific, water is a crucial and political issue in Kiribati. As the population increases, the pressure on the water resources also increases – not to mention the climate change effect... In Kiribati three main bodies deal with water – Water Unit, Environmental Health and PUB. The role of the water unit includes the water resource manager, policies and legislation matters, and implementation of rural water projects. The Environmental Health Unit role includes chemical and bacterial testing of water supplies while PUB runs and operates the Water Supply system on South Tarawa. There are a number of visions, issues and constraints which Kiribati is or will be facing. These include lack of water, vulnerability to climate change, lack of community awareness, usage of appropriate technologies, and lastly the setting of an appropriate water tariff.
• Republic of Kiribati: Millennium Development Goals, 2007
  "This National Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report was complied in line with the need by the Government of the Republic of Kiribati to assess how far it has gone in attempting to achieve targets identified in the MDGs. The aim is to produce a progress report that will allow Government to identify strengths and gaps in its overall development effort as a nation and in collaboration with its development partners, to improve the livelihood of its people in line with the goals and targets set out in the MDGs." [Government of the Republic of Kiribati]
• United Nations: Common Country Assessment: Kiribati
  "Having the status of a Least Developed Country, Kiribati is a priority country for UN assistance in the Pacific. There is a strong interest within the Kiribati Government to ensure that development assistance is better directed and coordinated. Better coordinated United Nations assistance will benefit the Government and people of Kiribati." [Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Suva, Fiji – February 2002]

Educational Resources

• CDC - Travel Information : Australia and the South Pacific and Kiribati