Preventive health care must be improved to combat the increase of obesity, diabetes, and other health problems in the outer islands of the Northwest region. In a State which suffers from incompetent leadership and lack of resources, the only sure medicine that has always been available to us as a people has been our own way of life; we need to re-educate our people on preventive measures such as the need to lead less sedentary lifestyles. Parents must be educated on the lifestyle and diet changes happening to our people as a way to return to our more healthy food choices. The lack of preventative health services threatens the lives and future of the future generation of Chuukese. Health education must be part of the school curriculum as an early way to educate future Chuukese on preventative health skills.
Action Strategies:
- Establish a Health Clinic on Weno specifically to serve the medical needs, advocate for healthcare, provide community training programs, and partner with international medical organizations to help the outer islands.
- Establish a super dispensary on three strategically and centrally located islands in Pattiw, Pafeng, Namonweito to service each region. The selection of the island that houses the health center will depend on a competitive selection process by which the mayors can provide the rationale for hosting the health clinic to service those islands. On the other islands, establish a health clinic room into every existing elementary school on all islands in the Northwest.
- Provide a scholarship specifically for qualified outer islander to get medical training in the United States and return to serve the islands in the Health Clinic or dispensaries.
- Work with the Outer Islands Partnership organization and other international NGOs to bring volunteer doctors to serve in the Northwest with services, medicine, and training
