Overview
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© UNICEF Pacific/2004 |
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A good start in life for this Micronesian child |
Much progress has been made in achieving child survival goals in the Pacific but there is still a long way to go to reach the desired goals. Although the infant mortality rate (IMR) has steadily declined in the region over the past decade, it is still high (between 37-63/1000 live births) in some countries. While it remains difficult to accurately assess trends in under-five mortality rates (U5MR) due to insufficient and/or unreliable data, the leading causes of death in children under five include acute respiratory infections (ARI), diarrhea, other infectious and vector-borne diseases, including malaria (in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands), perinatal complications and injuries.
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the Pacific has achieved a number of notable successes, such as polio eradication, near disappearance of diphtheria and neonatal tetanus, a degree of measles control, a substantial reduction in the number of children chronically infected with hepatitis B, and improvement in safe injection practices. However, the fragility and vulnerability of many of these programmes has been highlighted by recent measles outbreaks in Fiji; declining coverage in a few countries; programme disruption in the Solomon Islands as a result of ethnic tensions; deficiencies across many basic aspects of the programmes; and evidence from several countries of low levels of measles immunity in children, inconsistent with reported coverage data.
Over and under nutrition is a major concern in the Pacific. The quality of Pacific diets has been eroded by an increasingly high dependence on imported food, which are less nutritious than traditional food. Additionally, poor infant feeding practices, inadequate breastfeeding, high prevalence of malaria - mainly in the Solomons and Vanuatu - and other diseases, and poor counseling on prevention of micronutrient deficiencies are contributing to micronutrient deficiency problems. Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI) and Kiribati have a high prevalence of Vitamin A deficiency. Anemia is prevalent in all Pacific Island countries especially in children under five and women of child-bearing age.
Emergencies
Pacific Island Countries are vulnerable to many types of natural disasters such as, cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding and tsunamis. The threat of natural disasters is an ever-present fact of life for communities throughout the region. Children and women are often the victims of natural and man-made disasters. Children have witnessed their family members or friends being injured or killed in natural disasters and civil conflict. These sorts of experiences can lead to various sorts of psychological problems for children.
