rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Government
Nauru became an independent republic in
1968. The government is made up of an
18-member Parliament, with the members
electing the President, who is chief of state
and head of government. 418 There is a perceived
degree of stability in the Nauruan
government. The reformist government of
Ludwig Scotty was in power until a 2007
vote of no confidence, which was followed
by elections when supply was blocked in
a budget deadlock in the Parliament. 419
The current President is Marcus Stephen.
Challenges to the parliamentary process are
managed by the Supreme Court and a recent
decision regarding quorums to validly
undertake business indicates a commitment
to due process. 420
Health and development
Health trends in Nauru largely reflect those
in other PICTs, where non-communicable
diseases inflict the largest burden on health
services. These diseases include cardiovascular
disease, cancers, respiratory illnesses and
diabetes. Alarmingly, the trend in Nauru has
been towards a decrease in life expectancy to
the late 40s and early 50s age bracket. It is
estimated that Nauru has one of the world’s
highest levels of diabetes, renal failure and
heart disease (exceeding 40 per cent of the
population) due to poor diet, sedentary lifestyle
and alcohol abuse. 421 Like a number of
other small PICTs, Nauru is dependent on
rainwater tanks and desalinated water, as
there is no natural fresh water supply.
7.2 Drug and alcohol
overview
Nauru was not included in the 2004–05 situational
analysis of illicit drug issues and responses
in the Asia–Pacific region. For the
first time in 2008, a delegate from Nauru,
nominated by the Ministry of Health, attended
the PDARN meeting. At this meeting
(in Fiji, July 2008) the delegate identified alcohol
as the key drug of concern in Nauru,
noting the link to domestic violence, mental
health issues and traffic accidents. No evidence
of illicit drug use has been provided
and no publications relating specifically to
this issue in Nauru were identified.
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418 United States Department of State, Background Note: Nauru, (accessed February 2009).
419 Country Profile: Nauru, BBC News, available at: (accessed February 2009).
420 Nauru Ministry of Justice & Border Control, Nauru Country Report. Presented to Pacific
Islands Law Officers’ Network meeting, Port Vila, Vanuatu, 5–9 December 2008 (accessed
February 2009).
421 Above, fn.418.
Nauru