Health in Tuvalu
As in much of Oceania, obesity is a major health issue in Tuvalu with 65% of men and 71% of women being overweight.[1] In 2012 the birth rate on the islands was estimated at 23 per 1,000 people and life expectancy was 65.[2]
The
Medical problems in Tuvalu
In the 19th and 20th century, after the beginning of commerce with Europe and the United States, the primary medical problem in the islands was tuberculosis.[3] Tuberculosis has declined from an average 36 cases per year to 19 per year from 1975 to 2009.[5] [8] In 2016 the incidence of tuberculosis was reported as continuing to decline with average of 15 new cases of sputum positive infections every year.[9]
Droughts in Tuvalu, such as the 2011 Tuvalu drought result in water shortages and sanitation Problems. The health consequences are increased acute respiratory infections (ARIs), viral illnesses, skin diseases, septic sores, and cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid infections.[10]
Since the late 20th century the biggest health problem in Tuvalu, and the leading cause of death, has been
In 2014, the World Health Organization confirmed an outbreak of dengue fever in Tuvalu. The illness has re emerged in several Pacific Island countries after a period of twenty years.[12] A further outbreak of dengue fever occurred in 2019, from 25 March to 5 July 496 suspected and 226 confirmed cases were reported. 54 cases required hospitalisation from which 2 children died.[13]
In February 2024, the Tuvalu Department of Health launched a
Management of COVID-19
Tuvalu limited travel to Funafuti International Airport in early 2020.[15] The government of Tuvalu put in place The COVID-19 (Threatened Emergency) Regulation 2021, then published the Standard Operating Procedure for International Travel to Tuvalu.[16]
Dr Tapugao Falefou, was appointed the chair of the national Covid-19 taskforce. Tuvalu remained free of COVID-19 infections and implemented a vaccine program. By April 2022, 85% of 12-17-year-olds had received their first dose of vaccine, and about 90% of its adult population were fully vaccinated.[15] In 2023, the IMF Article IV consultation with Tuvalu concluded that a successful vaccination strategy allowed Tuvalu to lift coronavirus disease (COVID-19) containment measures at the end of 2022.[17]
Healthcare
The
Non-government organizations
There are no private formal medical services available in Tuvalu.[19] Non-government organizations provide health services, such as the Tuvalu Red Cross Society; Fusi Alofa (the care and rehabilitation of disabled children);[20] the Tuvalu Family Health Association (training and support on sexual and reproductive health); and the Tuvalu Diabetics Association (training and support on diabetes).[19]
References
- ^ "The Impact of Chronic Disease in Tuvalu" (PDF). World Health Organization. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ "Health in Tuvalu". Commonwealth Health. 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ a b c Resture, Setapu Asenati (March 2010). "TE MAAMA PALA: Continuity and change in coping with Tuberculosis in Tuvalu" (PDF). A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of Arts in History – The University of Auckland, N.Z. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ Panapa, Tufoua (2012). "Ethnographic Research on Meanings and Practices of Health in Tuvalu: A Community Report" (PDF). Report to the Tuvaluan Ministries of Health and Education: Ph D Candidate Centre for Development Studies - "Transnational Pacific Health through the Lens of Tuberculosis" Research Group. Department of Anthropology, The University of Auckland, N.Z. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ a b c "2007 University Student Exchange Programme- Fiji and Tuvalu" (PDF). Saga University-Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO (ACCU). 9–25 March 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "Population of communities in Tuvalu". world-statistics.org. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- ^ "Population of communities in Tuvalu". Thomas Brinkhoff. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
- ^ The population of Tuvalu was 9,561 at 2002 census and the population at the 2012 census was 10,640.[6][7]
- ^ a b "Global AIDS Progress Report of Tuvalu" (PDF). Ministry of Health Tuvalu. 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Emily McKenzie, Biman Prasad & Atu Kaloumaira (May 2005). "The economic impact of natural disasters on development in the Pacific". AusAID, USP & SOPAC. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Walker, Lawrence Zdenek. "Elective Report April-May 2012" (PDF). Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "WHO says dengue now in Tuvalu". Radio NZ International. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
- ^ "Dengue-1 Outbreak, Tuvalu: Situational Report 25th March - 4th July 2019 (Epidemic Week 27) (Report Date: Wednesday, July 10, 2019)". ReliefWeb. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
- ^ "Tuvalu launches typhoid campaign". ReliefWeb. 29 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ a b Puaseiese Adrienne Pedro (16 April 2022). "Freedom and fear: life in one of the few countries that Covid hasn't touched". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Standard Operating Procedure for International Travel to Tuvalu" (PDF). Government of Tuvalu. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Tuvalu: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Tuvalu". International Monetary Fund Country Report No. 2023/267. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Panapa, Tufoua (2012). "Ethnographic Research on Meanings and Practices of Health in Tuvalu: A Community Report" (PDF). Report to the Tuvaluan Ministries of Health and Education: Ph D Candidate Centre for Development Studies – "Transnational Pacific Health through the Lens of Tuberculosis" Research Group. Department of Anthropology, The University of Auckland, N.Z. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ ISBN 9789715614597. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ Corlew, Laura (2012). "The cultural impacts of climate change: sense of place and sense of community in Tuvalu, a country threatened by sea level rise" (PDF). Ph D dissertation, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Retrieved 11 September 2016.