Climate and the Feeling of [Momentarily] Drier Feet: Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty

As is oft the case, I recovered a newspaper cutting (or ripping) that made my feet feel drier, for several moments at any rate ...

Reading this really gave me a lift, given the ongoing state of world events then and now:

Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty

The Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty was signed on 9 November 2023 and entered into force on 28 August 2024.

As part of the Falepili Union treaty, Australia has:

• recognised for the first time in a legally binding treaty, Tuvalu's continuing statehood and sovereignty, notwithstanding the impact of climate-change related sea-level rise
• committed to assist Tuvalu in response to a major natural disaster, health pandemic or military aggression
• created a special visa pathway to support mobility with dignity, which will enable citizens of Tuvalu to come to Australia to live, work and study.

There are also obligations under the Treaty to ensure Australian interests are protected and to facilitate the smooth operation of the migration pathway and increased security cooperation:

• Tuvalu is obliged to ensure its immigration, passport, citizenship and border controls are robust and meet international standards for integrity and security
• Tuvalu will mutually agree with Australia any partnership, arrangement or engagement with any other State or entity on security and defence-related matters in Tuvalu.

Continued ...

My source: Nic Fildes, Migration: Australia offers Tuvalu residents visa to escape climate change. FTWeekend, 11-12 November 2023, p.4.

South Sudan Medical Journal Vol 19 No 2 May 2026

 

Dear Reader,

The May 2026 issue is online here; we thank all the copyeditors and reviewers who helped prepare these papers. SSMJ is indexed by African Journals Online (AJOL) – go here to see who reads us.


 

Editorial 

• Ebola: The Bundibugyo virus is back Edward Eremugo Kenyi
  
  

RESEARCH ARTICLES

• Risk factors in glaucoma: Insights from a prospective case–control study, Belagavi, India Asawari Kabure, Bhushan Kulkarni, Shilpa Kodkany, Murigendra Hiremath
• OV16 antibody seropositivity reveals persistent onchocerciasis transmission and cross-border risk in Magwi County, South Sudan: a population-based survey Ezbon WApary, Yak Yak, Benson Ojara, Wilson Ladu, David Oguttu, Ian Hennessee, Pita Jane, Johan Willems, Thok Chol, Kamulete Horasio, Okot William, Amanya Jacob
• Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in communities along the River Niger Basin areas, North-Central Nigeria Nyamngee Amase, Ikpe Raphael Terlumun, Kayode Yusuf Abel, Sulaiman Mariam Kehinde, Akanbi II Aliu Ajibola
• Developing a communicable and infectious diseases research agenda in South Sudan: A multi-stakeholder prioritisation approach Amanya Jacob, Ezbon WApary, Dhieu Daniel, Atemthi Dau, Matur T. Tieng, John Rumunu, Cicilia Konga, Bol Atem, Betty Eyobo, Robert Napoleon, Joseph Panyuon, Kenneth L Sube, Kon Alier, Joseph Lako, John Suraj, Abuelguasim M. Hassan, Mapuor Areu, Lazarus Atem, Aja Kuol, Pizzi Wilson, Achcer Adup Mou
• Determinants of disaster preparedness among public health facilities in Juba City, South Sudan Dumba Samuel Kenyi, Muthoni Mwangi Eunice, Musa Olouch
• Evaluating the role of the health information system infrastructure in enhancing data quality in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan Matur T. Tieng, Karani Magutah, Joseph Muchiri
• Impact of developmental stimulation education on maternal knowledge and caregiving practices in stunting: a longitudinal study Ning Iswati, Azizan Omar, Sukhbeer Kaur Darsin Singh, Putra Agina Widyaswara Suwaryo 
• Holding the line: lived experiences of mental health, moral injury, and organizational support among public-health professionals in the Rohingya Camp, Bangladesh — phenomenological study Md. Ruhul Amin

CASE REPORTS 

• Endoscopic endonasal repair of post-traumatic sphenoid sinus cerebrospinal fluid leak with encephalocele Justin Rubena, Khalid Coco, Francis Swaka, Othwonh Twong 
• A rare pathological feature of portal vein thrombosis complicated by portal hypertension and haematemesis Hamidine Illa, Ganiou Tidjani Kabirou, Amadou Magagi Mahamane Ibrahim, Maman Brah Moustapha, Soumaila Abdou, Habou Garba Abdoul Malik, Adamou Harissou

REVIEW ARTICLE

• Interpersonal and community-level factors influencing intimate partner violence in South Sudan: a literature review Nyinypiu Tong Chol Adong 

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

• Letter to the Editor J. Clarke McIntosh
• Letter to the Editor Eluzai A. Hakim
• News from the Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund Eluzai A. Hakim

BACKCOVER: CDC Poster: Flu or Ebola? 

Thanks to everyone who supports SSMJ. Tell your colleagues they can join our mailing list here.

The SSMJ team
Email: southsudanmedicaljournal AT gmail.com
Website: http://www.southsudanmedicaljournal.com
Follow us on X: @SSMedJournal and our Facebook Group,