In the Pacific, the global mortality rate from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) is 63 percent, with 75 percent of Pacific Islanders dying from NCDs, while traditional threats such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and injuries are also taking a high toll. In addition to the existing grant funding available from the U.S. Government to the Pacific Islands, the U.S is expanding its partnership to include four new initiatives.
The U.S awarded a $100,000 grant to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community to make public health data available so that the people in the Pacific Islands will be able to more efficiently track health trends and respond to emerging outbreaks through improved public health data collection. This will enable better tracking analysis and dissemination of data to build effective public health surveillance networks.
In addition, in a joint effort with New Zealand, the mHealth Mobile Technologies Tobacco Control Initiative, is going to use mobile phone technology to support tobacco cessation. The program uses surveys on motivation and establishes interest in quitting by using text messaging to get ongoing support in American Samoa and Samoa.
Another initiative includes hosting an International Visitors Leadership Project to Improve Health and Nutrition. The Embassy in Samoa plans to establish a grant with the local NGO to promote healthy lifestyles and increase outreach so that individuals and families can make healthier decisions.
The fourth initiative called the “Combating Non-Communicable Disease through Regional Trade, Fresh Produce and Good Nutrition” project is connecting the Federated States of Micronesia’s large consumer markets with regional agricultural producers to provide information on obtaining fresh, healthy, and affordable produce.
Health eVillages is another group working to provide better health for underserved areas. The organization has received funding from Physicians Interactive and in collaboration with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center). The program provides iPods and iPads as well as other handheld devices equipped with specialized references and clinical decision support materials to clinicians in underserved regions around the world.
In the U.S. the project is going to support the new Robert F. Kennedy Lafittle Medical Clinic located in Louisiana. The Clinic will be operated by the Jefferson Community Health Care Centers serving 3,000 underserved patients with full-time primary care and preventive services.
Earlier this year, Health eVillages was involved in another partnership to deploy resources with Teche Action Board Inc. at their Franklin Louisiana clinic site serving 18,000 people at ten clinics in rural Southwestern Louisiana.
Health eVillages has also deployed mHealth tools and resources to Project HOPE’s Pacific Partnership 2013 on the USS Pearl Harbor. This project is designed to teach the men and women in the Navy how to effectively use the devices provided by Health eVillages so when the volunteers and crew go to the Marshall Islands, Kirbati, and the Solomon Islands, they are equipped to provide medical care to a very needy population.