Solomons + Aus Work Together To Eliminate Malaria

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MEDIA RELEASE DATE 13 February 2009

Solomon Islands And Australia Work Together To Eliminate Malaria

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are leading members of a new regional network to eliminate malaria launched in Australia this week. The Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network (APMEN) brings together the 10 countries in the region which have committed themselves to eliminating malaria from within their borders.

Solomon Islands has set itself challenging goals to tackle malaria. These include ending malaria-related deaths and reducing parasite incidence by 65%. It also aims to eliminate malaria in Temotu Province by 2014 and then progressively in all other provinces to create a malaria-free Solomon Islands.

Professor Sir Richard Feachem, Chair of the Australian Government-supported Malaria Reference Group, is visiting Honiara this week to review progress on malaria elimination efforts in the Solomon Islands. Sir Richard is a former head of the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

“Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are at the forefront of the battle to create a malaria-free Melanesia” said Sir Richard yesterday following a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Fred Fono and Minister for Health and Medical Services, Johnson Koli.

“The work in Solomon Islands is off to a good start” said Sir Richard. “The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has developed a detailed strategy and action plan. New equipment and supplies are being purchased. And in Temotu we have conducted the largest survey of malaria ever undertaken in Solomon Islands in collaboration with the Australian Army Malaria Institute.”

Albino Bobogare, Director of the Ministry’s Vector Borne Disease Control Unit said “Solomon Islands is now poised to implement the action phase of the program which will eliminate malaria from Temotu Province and greatly reduce it in all other provinces.”

Acting Australian High Commissioner Alison Duncan welcomed the close collaboration between Australia and Solomon Islands on this important initiative. “Australia has committed A$14 million from 2007 to 2011 to assist Solomon Islands to implement the Malaria Action Plan. This includes a strong management and technical team based in the University of Queensland in Brisbane and on the ground assistance in Solomon Islands.” The funds to support malaria elimination have been made available by AusAID, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, WHO and the Global Fund.

ENDS

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