The health care system in
Tokelau is operated by the Tokelau Department of Health. Each of the three atolls of Tokelau has a 12-bed hospital that works as part of the
Samoa region to provide primary health care to the community. Each hospital is staffed by a medical officer, four to five nurses, and other staff.
The hospital at
Nukunonu (St Josephs) has been developed as a national referral hospital since 2015.
The health services has a Director of Health based in
Apia, Samoa, and a Chief Clinical Advisor who moves from atoll to atoll as required to assist the doctors attached to each hospital. As of 2007 the hospitals were heavily reliant on
locum doctors who come for 3–6 months. Most of the time there was no doctor on an atoll and the hospital was run by the nurses. Upcoming Tokelauan medical graduates are believed to be alleviating this shortage.
In Tokelau, skin infections,
influenza
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is an infectious disease caused by influenza viruses. Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. These symptoms ...
,
gastro-enteritis
Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea and gastro, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and intestine. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Fever, lack of energy, and dehydra ...
and upper respiratory tract infections are common.
Tuberculosis still exists.
[ The major causes of death are pneumonia, heart disease and cancer. In recent years diabetes and gout have increased, attributed to the reliance on imported Western foods (such as sugar, flour, rice and potatoes), and the resultant declining healthy lifestyles. Over half the adult population smoke daily, and there is heavy alcohol consumption and a high incidence of obesity. The change in dietary trends has also seen a decline in dental health.]
See also
* Smoking in Tokelau
References
{{Oceania topic, List of hospitals in