Malaria cases record drop by 17% in the Hapi Isles

Solomon Islands had recorded a significant drop in malaria incidence over the past five years.

Last year malaria incidence was reduced by 17 per cent from 2006 in most of the provinces. Deputy Director of the Vector Bourne Disease Control Programme (VBDCP) Leonard Boaz confirmed to Solomon Star that the incidence seems to be declining since 2003. “By the look, the trend for malaria in the whole country seems to be going down,” Mr Boaz said.

“This is a good news for the country with the effort being doubled up to reduce the incidence.” He said although provinces like Temotu, Malaita, Guadalcanal and Central Province are yet to send in their December laboratory report, there should be no difference made.

Despite the overall decrease, two provinces have recorded an increase in malaria. “Data for each province indicated that the malaria cases in Western and Central Provinces increased in 2007 compared to 2006.

The rest of the provinces continued to reduce their malaria incidence,” he said. The highest malaria incidence in years was in 1992. At that very point, the malaria programme was decentralized.

The government helped fund the programme which saw some reduction in malaria incidence but that funding stopped during the tension. In 2003 Global Fund stepped in and continue funding the malaria control programme until today. Other agencies such as World Health Organisation, Japanese International Cooperation Agency, Rotary Against Malaria and USAID also helped.

Mr Boaz said the main reasons for the continuous reduction of malaria was due to the availability of funds provided by these overseas aid donors. He said intensive malaria activities were also carried out by the malaria officers such us,distribution of long lasting mosquito nets, prompt diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases,more community awareness and more indoor residual spray.