Current health issues and progress in Tonga
Tonga is currently working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. To achieve the targets for the reduction of child mortality, which forms MDG 4, Tonga should reduce underfive deaths per 1,000 live births to eight, and increase measles immunisation to 100 per cent by 2015. In 2012, under-five mortality stood at 13 deaths per 1,000 live births, and measles immunisation stood at 95 per cent. This data suggests that Tonga is making good progress towards decreasing child mortality, although the rate of decline must be improved if the country is to achieve this target by 2015. Measles immunisation has seen a decrease from 99 per cent to 95 per cent – this is somewhat problematic, and will need to be rectified if the country hopes to achieve this aspect of MDG 4.
The global MDG 5 target for maternal health is to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth by threequarters between 1990 and 2015. When applying this target to Tonga, the maternal mortality should fall to 17 cases per 100,000 live births. In the period 2000-11, reported maternal mortality in Tonga was 36 deaths per 100,000 live births (this figure was estimated by UN agencies/ World Bank as 110 in 2010). Given this data, rapid progress must be made if Tonga is to achieve this target by 2015. Part of MDG 5 stipulates that 100 per cent of births must be attended by a skilled health professional. In the period 2007-12 this figure stood at 98 per cent, so this target is close to being achieved.
MDG 6 aims for a reduction in the prevalence of HIV, malaria and other diseases. Tonga has a low estimated incidence of TB, which has been gradually declining since 1990. The country is making progress towards the achievement of MDG 6.