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This week’s closure
of the 177 Health Plan program office in Majuro has
reignited complaints from four atoll leaders. Wednesday’s
session at the Nitijela was filled with terse comments about
US responsibility for its nuclear test legacy. While that’s
consistent with what four atoll leaders have been saying for
months, the imminent closure of this program after 17 years
is generating renewed anger — despite Ministry of Health
efforts to maintain services on the outer islands.
Four atoll leaders have a point about American government
responsibility. The general public may not be aware of the
provision of US Congressional legislation, known as the
“Burton Bill”, that was passed in 1980 and which authorized
funding of the first “four atoll health program” — which
preceded the first Compact-funded 177 Health Plan.
Section 104 of this piece of legislation suggests that
ongoing American responsibility for health care to the four
atolls is more than just the desire of leaders from these
atolls. The provision says, in part, that federal programs
for health and education shall not cease to apply to the
Trust Territory “or any successor government”, nor shall
programs in health or education “be denied, decreased or
ended, either before or after the termination of the
trusteeship, without the express approval of the United
States Congress.” Congress didn’t negotiate the amended Compact, and hasn’t
yet specifically addressed health care issues for the four
atolls, so doesn’t appear to have given its “express
approval” for terminating the 177 Health Plan.
This legislative history should be of help as the four
atolls and the RMI government lobby the US Congress to
provide funding to continue health services for the four
atolls. |
