BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

The first ever Supply and Use, and Input and Output Tables (SUT/IOT) was published by the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office (SINSO) yesterday, adding a key statistical and development milestone for the country.

A statement from the Statistics office of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT) yesterday said that the SUT /IOT for the Solomon Islands is benchmarked to 2012 expanding from the National Accounts/Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current and constant 2012 prices.

As stated, this is the first SUT/IOT complied for the Solomon Islands by the SINSO with technical support from the Asian Development Bank (KSTA 6565).

“The SUTs form an integrated and central framework expanding from the recommendations of the System of National Accounts (2008 SNA) for the compilation of a single and coherent estimate of GDP comprising the three main approaches of production, income and expenditure with close associations to other parts of the SNA framework,” the statement said.

The Statistics office said basically, the SUTs shows how products (goods and services) are supplied into the Solomon Islands economy through domestic production and imports in the supply side, and how these products are used through intermediate consumption and final consumption by households, non-profit institution serving households, general government, gross capital formation and exports.

The SUTs also encompasses linkages between the gross value added (GVA), industry inputs and outputs and can also reveal connections of different institutional sectors such as government and non-financial corporations of the SNA framework. 

It also provides analytical resource in its own right presenting interactions between producers and consumers.

The statement said an important use of SUTs is it acts as the basis for producing input-output tables (IOT), and other related products and indicator analyses.

“The IOTs reveal the linkages between final uses and intermediate uses of goods and services disaggregated by industry outputs (industry-by-industry tables) or by product outputs (product-by-product tables), and separately also shows the consumption of goods and services produced in the domestic economy and those imported goods and services.

“The past and current compilation of the GDP estimates by SINSO have been undertaken outside the SUT framework. Hence, going forward into the medium-long term, SINSO aims to align the GDP compilation system within the SUT framework,” said the statement.

The Statistics office noted in the statement that further information about the publication and information about the statistics can be obtained from the publication No.2/2026 and downloaded also from the SINSO website https://statistics.gov.sb   

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen Nipah virus surveillance, laboratory readiness and rapid response systems through the Public Health Emergency and Surveillance Unit (PHESU).

Island Sun reached out to MHMS on Thursday following the Nipah virus issue, but did not get a response till a press statement was issued later that evening on the issue.

According to the MHMS press statement, PHESU is monitoring global developments and ensuring frontline health workers and points of entry staff are informed and vigilant.

Though no case has been detected in the country, it is important to be aware, prepared and prevent the virus since it has increased global attention.

Since there are no direct flights from Kolkata to Honiara, it reduces the likelihood of imported cases into the country, therefore risk remains low.

MHMS urges communities to remain informed about Nipah virus, calling on community leaders, churches, schools, and local organisations to play a key role in sharing accurate information and preventing misinformation. This is to ensure information is obtained from trusted sources.

Health facilities throughout the country are reminded to maintain infection prevention and control practices and to promptly report any unusual clusters of illness.

In India the national and state health teams and the public health response said there is no evidence of increased human-to-human transmission.

There are two confirmed cases in West Bengal by two health workers. Though about 200 contacts were traced out of the two cases, they tested negative for Nipah virus and are without symptoms.

This is India’s 7th documented Nipah outbreak. It has the capacity to contain such outbreaks, as demonstrated in previous outbreaks. WHO do not recommend any travel and/or trade restrictions toward India based on the currently available information.

Nipah virus is transmitted from animals to humans, it can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from human contact. The hosts of this virus are fruits bats, with evidence that it can also infect pigs, dogs, cats and others.

In 1998 an outbreak of Nipah virus was first identified in Malaysia during an outbreak among pig farmers. The following year it was reported in Singapore, this is due to the importation of sick pigs from Malaysia.

One can be infected and show symptoms between 4 – 21 days, but according to research by the UK Research Security Agency time frame can also be longer. Infected people initially develop symptoms that include fever, headaches, myalgia, vomiting, and sore throat.

There are no drugs or vaccines for Nipah virus infection, therefore it is identified as a priority disease for the WHO Research and Development Blueprint. Intensive supportive care is recommended to treat severe respiratory and neurologic complications.

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By RODRICK DESURI 

Auki 

Tawaimare Community High School in West Are’are, Malaita province has resumed classes after it was forced to close last week due to bad weather.

Last week Solomon Islands was placed under an Orange Alert in which heavy rains and strong winds were warned across the whole country.

Tawaimare CHS was one of the schools across the country which had to close due to the high risk posed on its students and staff.

The Deputy Principal of Tawaimare Community High School, Abraham Taloinao in an interview Friday last week said they have started their academic year and were only able to give few lessons to the students before they were forced to close.

“We have started our normal academic classes this week with a few lessons, but because the bad weather didn’t allow us, we postponed.

“But as the bad weather is now slowly moving away, we are resuming our normal classes this week,” he said.

He said that this week is a grace period for late registration for students who have not come to school and completed their registration due to the bad weather.

“This week, we have opened a grace period for late registration for those who live very far from the school, such as students from Tawaimare,” he said.

Taloinao said the school can be in full swing with its programs if all students are registered. 

He said the school can’t start once the parents haven’t completed their students’ registration. 

“We can fully swing into our full program if parents have enrolled their children on time,” he said. 

Meanwhile, it is understood that most primary and secondary schools in Malaita Province will start their classes this week.

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BY SYLVANA TEKUMAHA

Following the outbreak of the Nipah virus in India, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has issued preventive measures and ways to reduce the spread of Nipah virus if circulated in communities.

Although chances of the Nipah virus to reach the country remains low, MHMS issued a press statement detailing preventive measures.

They include;

–           Avoid bat-to-human transmission

–           Cover date palm sap collection sites with bamboo skirts or other protective coverings.

–           Wash and peel fruits: Clean fruits thoroughly and peel them before eating.

–           Ensure that any fruit that looks like it’s been bitten by bats it is properly disposed, away from other humans and animals.

–           Prevent animal-to-human transmission

–           Use gloves and protective clothing when handling sick animals or during farm work.

–           Limit contact with pigs that may be infected.

–           When setting up pig farms in areas where fruit bats live, keep pig feed and sheds covered to prevent bat contamination.

–           Don’t touch or stay too close to people infected with Nipah virus without protection.

–           Practice regular handwashing, especially after caring for or visiting sick individuals.

–           Health workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed infection, or handling specimens from them, should always implement standard infection control precautions.

–           As human-to-human transmission has been reported in health-care settings, contact and droplet precautions should be used in addition to standard precautions. Airborne precautions may be required in certain circumstances.

–           Samples from people and animals suspected of having Nipah virus infection should be handled by trained staff working in suitably equipped laboratories.

Symptoms of the Nipah virus includes fever, headache, difficulty breathing or coughing, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea.

MHMS’s press statement was released since there is an increase of global attention towards the Nipah virus outbreak in India. Reports show that only two health workers infected while others who came into contact with them tested negative.

The Ministry of Health is working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen surveillance, laboratory readiness and rapid response systems through the Public Health Emergency and Surveillance Unit (PHESU).

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