The Cook Islands face a triple health challenge due to climate change: communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and other health impacts of climate change, which can result in high rates of sickness and death. Water and food security, safety, vector-borne diseases, and heat-related illnesses are exacerbated by climate-related natural hazards such as intense cyclones and rising sea levels. Climate-related disasters also disrupt healthcare services, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups in the population. 

"Akamatutu’anga To Tatou Ora’anga Meitaki (ATOM): Building a healthy and resilient Cook Islands Community – one block at a time" aims at enhancing the capacity of the health system and the resilience of health services in the Cook Islands, which serve the total population of the country. The project will further support approximately 30 communities and 22 health facilities and/or emergency centres in 12 inhabited islands of the 15 islands, including the 11 outer Pa Enua islands and the main island of Rarotonga.  

ATOM was developed through a partnership between the Cook Islands and GCF where the country originated and developed the project with GCF support. Through GCF’s Readiness Programme and Project Preparation Facility (PPF), the Cook Islands undertook preparatory activities such as health assessments and pre-feasibility studies to inform project design and implementation, ensuring the project will be impactful, effective, efficient and meet the needs of its population.