Kiribati is one of the most physically remote and dispersed countries in the world, making it very difficult to reach everyone in need.
With islands scattered over a vast area of the Pacific Ocean, transportation and telecommunications are challenging, time-consuming, and costly, creating significant barriers to healthcare and other essential services.
Kiribati’s low-lying islands make it particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and rising sea levels. Classified as a Least Developed Country, Kiribati struggles with limited freshwater sources, which lead to various health issues related to water quality and sanitation. These factors make it especially difficult to provide widespread healthcare, but we remain committed to reaching those in need.
The most common causes of blindness and vision impairment in Kiribati are:
With an estimated 24.1% of the population suffering from diabetes, Kiribati has a large number of people in need of regular screening for signs of diabetes eye disease. Many require urgent treatment, but the health system is simply not set up to meet the need.
In 2017 we upgraded the eye clinic, and we’re continuing to support Dr Erena Kum-kei as a trainee eye doctor, with regular visits from consulting ophthalmologists and we are supporting clinical attachments for Kiribati eye health staff to further their skills and knowledge at the Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji.
We’re also helping to raise awareness within the health sector about diabetes and the impact it can have on eye health. We support the training of health nurses to recognise and refer diabetic patients to the eye clinic, which helps the eye care clinicians reach people in remote villages
Currently in Kiribati, there are:
2023 highlights:
The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is a registered charitable organisation under the Charities Act 2005.
Charities Commission registration number is CC23722.
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