The people of the Marshall Islands face
considerable challenges to maintain the health of its
citizens. Recently, high population growth and crowded
conditions in urban areas, have given rise to diseases,
such as tuberculosis and leprosy. These conditions typically
come about in rapid growth areas of the world that have
limited economic and medical resources. In addition,
exposure to the influence of Western culture has brought
about a rise in the levels of adult obesity, non-communicable
diseases, teenage pregnancy, .suicide, and alcoholism,
and tobacco use
The government of the Marshall Islands
, along with the assistance of groups such as the World
Health Organization, has identified and begun to effect
solutions to the health care challenges that face the
Marshalls . Future efforts will focus on the training
native Marshallese health professionals, strengthening
community health care programs, upgrading the quality
of health care, and increasing the efficiency of the
dissemination of health care information to the citizens
of the Marshall Islands . Other health related issues
that must be addressed include the need to reduce population
growth and urban population densities, longstanding solutions
to malnutrition and other conditions that plague the
Marshalls.