Malaria down 10 percent

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

THE Solomon Islands Annual Malaria Programme Report recorded an unprecedented success in Malaria control cases in 2017 with a reduction of 10 percent from the 2016 trend.

The report was revealed by the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, and such information is supplemented from newly data system called Malaria Case Management Register (MCMR) introduced in 2015.

Last year’s report shows that after an unprecedented period of success in 2014 and 2015 malaria control in Solomon Islands has had further progress in fighting the vector borne disease.

Vector Borne Division report stated 79.6 percent was recorded in 2017 which overthrew the 88.8 percent cases of malaria in 2016, an increase of 40.5 percent cases over 2015 compared to steady downward trend in malaria as previously reported in 2004 and 2013.

According to Vector Borne Division, they said this is an impressive success for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services through National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme to fight against Malaria and vector borne disease in Solomon Islands.

Currently, the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme is working on controlling malaria cases with an aim to reach one-third of the country’s population using the Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN) also known as bed nets.

They said vector control intervention relies much on distributing LLIN, and with the massive distribution of bed nets last year, same will be continued this year.

The National Malaria Strategy 2015—2020 remains valid which will be the guiding tool for determining programme priorities and government and other stakeholders’ investment in malaria control and elimination in Solomon Islands.

According to World Health Organisation, Vector-borne diseases account for more than 17 percent of all infectious diseases, causing more than 700,000 deaths annually.

More than 3.9 billion people in over 128 countries which include Solomon Islands are at risk of contracting dengue, with 96 million cases estimated per year.

In terms of Malaria cases globally, WHO stated Malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths every year globally, most of them children under five years of age.

Meanwhile, many of these diseases are preventable, and Solomon Islands installed progress in battling vector borne disease with strategy to distribute LLIN across the provinces.

The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme strongly emphasize prevention measures are using of bed nets, cleaning backyards, drainage cleaning and frequent cleaning of residential environment.

By doing this it will help to eliminate or control malaria and dengue in the country, they said.

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