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Interior funds Marshall healthcare program
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Posted on Dec 27 2018
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of the Interior has authorized $392,716, for the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 as partial funding amount for the Four Atoll Healthcare Program in the Marshall Islands. This program will benefit the people of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utrok.
Originally funded through the first Compact of Free Association, these services are now supported through discretionary funding that requires congressional authorization and appropriation every year.
The program provides basic healthcare services and overall wellness programs for over 18,000 people from the four nuclear-affected atolls in the Marshall Islands. The program covers dental services, women’s healthcare and cancer screening, diabetes screening and control, eye services in collaboration with the Canvas Back Eye Mission, immunization coverage, reduction of infant mortality, and surveillance of tuberculosis and leprosy.
The total requested for FY19 is $ 1,570,864.
Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utrok are the four Marshall Islands atolls impacted by the nuclear weapons testing program carried out by the U.S. Department of Defense between 1946 and 1958. (PR)
