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Problems of Kiribati
Health
The most serious problem with the Kiribati health is the spread of tuberculosis. In the year of 1990, around 200 cases of tuberculosis were reported for every 100000 people. The other epidemic diseases that cause major headaches for the people of the Republic of Kiribati are leprosy, dysentery and filariasis. The water purification system is working in good pace since the outbreak of cholera in Kiribati in 1977. Water and sewage pipes have been constructed in large scales since that time. The children of Kiribati face a chronic problem of night blindness. The Kiribati health system faces a challenges due to the malnutrition of the general masses. The babies henceforth, are short of Vitamin A. Another disease that causes problem to the Kiribati health department is xerophthalmia. The children of Kiribati are mostly affected with this particular disease. About 15% of children in Kiribati were reported with xerophthalmia in 1994. Another serious challenge that the Kiribati health system faces is the menacing rate of infant immortality. In the year of 2002, the infant mortality rate recorded was 53 for every 1000 live births. In 2002, the Kiribati health services estimated the average life expectancy of 60.5 years. The total fertility rate reported by the Kiribati health services was 4.3 births per woman. The other frequent diseases faced by Kiribati health system are diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, polio and tuberculosis. |
Pollution
Like its Pacific island neighbours, Kiribati is experiencing the growing problems attributed to uncontrolled waste disposal and pollution emerging from a myriads of sources. The intensity of the problem is increasingly felt in urban areas where there is a notable concentration of the population and increasing commercial and manufacturing establishments. Great concern is expressed in relation to the disposal of radio-active wastes being dumped in the sea in close proximity to Kiribati. The harmful effects of human exposure to radio active radiation have been experienced in many parts of the world and in particular the Pacific region. The inevitable problems attributed to improper management of waste and pollution is a widespread experience in Kiribati. The situation is worsening in urbanized areas where there is a high population density and the obvious problem of overcrowding and pollution evolving from many sources. |