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New Beginnings in Kiribati
This new project in Kiribati focuses on preventative health, raising awareness on issues like leprosy, TB, and malaria.
In January 2024, we had the honour and privilege to welcome, Hon Minister of Commerce and Tourism Bootii Nauan; Secretary Ruui Tabutoa & Dr. Temea, Medical Practitioner from the Ministry of Health from the Republic of Kiribati to our office in Auckland.
We had a fruitful meeting sharing our vision and goal for this new partnership. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Health and The Leprosy Mission NZ, endorsed by the Cabinet of the Republic of Kiribati to work on a new Preventative Health Programme supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
Leprosy remains one of the medical health challenges in Kiribati.
In 2021, the number of leprosy cases recorded in Kiribati increased dramatically... and approximately 30% of these cases were children; 20% of the people affected by leprosy were reported with disabilities. This shows that leprosy is raging in communities.
This partnership marks a new chapter of Kiribati and the Leprosy Mission NZ. This new programme is based on the success of the preventative health programme we have in Bougainville, taking a holistic approach to improve the overall wellbeing of communities in Kiribati, which has a goal of building healthy, resilient, inclusive and empowered communities.
This will be a significant step forward in our shared pursuit of a world free from leprosy.
Following signing the Memorandum of Understanding, Jasleen, LMNZ International Programmes Manager, visited Kiribati to meet with The Department of Health:
