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All services related to Kiribati health are free. The most serious problem with the Kiribati health is the spread of tuberculosis. In the year of 1990, around 200 cases of tuberculosis were reported for every 100000 people. The other epidemic diseases that cause major headaches for the people of the Republic of Kiribati are leprosy, dysentery and filariasis. The water purification system is working in good pace since the outbreak of cholera in Kiribati in 1977. Water and sewage pipes have been constructed in large scales since that time.
The children of Kiribati face a chronic problem of night blindness. The Kiribati health system faces a challenges due to the malnutrition of the general masses. The babies henceforth, are short of Vitamin A. Another disease that causes problem to the Kiribati health department is xerophthalmia. The children of Kiribati are mostly affected with this particular disease. About 15% of children in Kiribati were reported with xerophthalmia in 1994.
Another serious challenge that the Kiribati health system faces is the menacing rate of infant immortality. In the year of 2002, the infant mortality rate recorded was 53 for every 1000 live births. In 2002, the Kiribati health services estimated the average life expectancy of 60.5 years. The total fertility rate reported by the Kiribati health services was 4.3 births per woman. The other frequent diseases faced by Kiribati health system are diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, polio and tuberculosis.
The Kiribati health service are doing good work within the limitation of the infrastructure provided to them. There are 4 medical districts which are equipped each with its own staffs and medical officer. A medical radio network is also maintained well to link all the islands.
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