rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
Both the Secretariat of the Pacific Community
and WHO provide funds for public health
programs. Japan funded the development
of Tuvalu’s single desalination plant and has
provided ongoing contributions to infrastructure
programs, 933 as well as fisheries-related
programs.
WHO, UNAIDS and ADB all have Tuvalubased
programs. A specific objective of the
WHO program is preventing and reducing
the risks associated with alcohol and
tobacco use. 934
16.8 Gaps analysis
While there is reportedly no illicit drug use
on Tuvalu, studies need to verify this and
fill the data gap. The example of risk taking
among Tuvaluans resident in New Zealand
is an important indicator that risk among
migrant populations needs to be explored
further. Reports of risk-taking behaviours,
and in particular substance use, among seafarers
are common, yet tailored programs to
address these issues have not been identified.
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933 Japan’s Economic Cooperation between Japan and Tuvalu, published by the Embassy of Japan
in Fiji, available at: (accessed
October 2009).
934 WHO 2008–2009 Programme Budget: Tuvalu. Strategic Objective 6: To… prevent or reduce risk
factors with tobacco, alcohol…; Strategic Objective 10: To improve health services through better
governance…, available at: (last accessed January 2009).