Kiribati

Storm surges, droughts, and saltwater intrusion have reduced the availability of fresh water and nutritious foods. To address the burden of non-communicable diseases and malnutrition affecting women of childbearing age and children under 5, MSF is implementing a community-integrated approach aimed at strengthening local health systems and providing people with a better understanding of the link between climate change and health.

MSF’s partnership with the i-Kiribati Ministry of Health and Medical Services is central to this initiative; we work together to enhance the national health care system’s ability to manage the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity, alongside malnutrition. We support nurses and medical assistants to improve recognition of health conditions and use key innovations such as the CRADLE Vital Signs Alert system, a device designed to detect pre-eclampsia, sepsis, and other pregnancy-related complications in low-resource settings.

During health screenings for women and children in 12 villages, MSF teams identified a number of issues: most women with diabetes had poorly controlled blood sugar levels; there was a high prevalence of high blood pressure in women; and obesity was widespread, including among expectant mothers. They also saw evidence of poor water and sanitation conditions, and episodes of diarrhea among children.