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The Pacific region faces a range of health challenges. In Polynesia “lifestyle” non-communicable diseases (NCDs - such as diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and some forms of cancer) are the major health concerns.
In Melanesia and Micronesia “poverty” related health issues are more evident. All Pacific Island Countries are dealing with rises in communicable diseases and with alcohol/drug use.
New Zealand assists in many aspects of health and nutrition through its multilateral, regional and bilateral programmes. Key focus areas include: Health Sector Capacity Building; Communicable and NCDs; Capacity Building for Research; Disabilities; Youth Health Development and a Medical Treatment Scheme.
HIV/AIDS poses a potential threat in the Pacific. Known infection rates are already as high as 430 per 100,000 in Papua New Guinea and other countries, notably Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, have sharply increasing infection rates. NZAID has committed $12million over three years to ensure that the Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS strategy, agreed to at the Pacific Island Forum in 2003, is fully implemented.
Pacific Islands countries are highly vulnerable to pandemic influenza and would have serious difficulty responding to an outbreak due to the limited capacity of their health systems. New Zealand is working with Pacific Islands states to encourage avian flu awareness in the region, and assist with the implementation of practicable and effective contingency plans in the event of a pandemic. The New Zealand Government has committed $825,000 to support the work of the South Pacific Commission and the New Zealand Ministry of Health to strengthen national influenza preparedness and response.
