A review of health and nutrition issues in the Pacific

Abstract

The economic development of the South Pacific is being hampered by poor health which is reflected in the relatively high mortality rates and short life expectancy found in the subregion. The article reviews the situation in 5 countries scattered across a gradient characterized by a transition from largely traditional and rural agricultural societies with rampant infectious diseases to more urban cash-bases modern economies where chronic degenerative diseases predominate. The review recommends greater emphasis on preventive health measures to lower mortality attributable to communicable and chronic diseases and suggests improvements in health planning management and evaluation as well as a number of interventions beyond the health sector. Of greatest public health significance are acute respiratory infectins (pneumonia influenza) malaria tuberculosis leprosy and sexully transmitted diseases. Noncommunicable diseases are common causes of mortality and morbidity as well (diabetes cardiovascular disease cancer and diseases of violence and addiction). Women as a group have special health needs and malnutrition is common. Future health improvements will require a sustained multisectoral effort.