.-134- € The prevention of diseases is of primary concern and priority in the Trust Territory. With the relative density and smallness of population an outbreak of a disease could be catastrophic. Therefore, it is of extreme importance that the district departments of Health Services maintain increased vigilance and reporting capabilities. Table V7 presents morbidity data on the reported number of cases of notifiable diseases and the average incidence rate per 100,000 population | | Bn AN for the period of 1975-1977. Influenza, amebiasis and gastroenteritis are the notifiable diseases with the highest incidence rate in the Trust Territory. The mortality rate for communicable diseases during the period of 1972-1977 was 27.67 per 100,000 population. Table V-8 presents a comparison of communicable disease incidence rates for Pacific Islands countries. With the exception of amoebiasis, the Trust Territory communicable disease incidence rates are comparable to other Pacific Islands. OBJECTIVE BY 1983, DEATHS FROM COMMUNICABLE DISEASES WHICH ARE PREVENTABLE WILL BE LESS THAN 12 PER 100,000 POPULATION. ee eee _ meTae ad wre oe Wk ee ee eee CR ane ee De EE tbe bed ee DE det hdr | tet