BY CHRIS ALEX
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has said that 9 out of 10 births in Solomon Islands are now attended by skilled health professionals.
He made the statement when delivering his speech at the UN High-Level Meeting marking the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, held as part of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly.
The meeting was themed “Recommitting to, resourcing and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”
“I am pleased to announce that 9 out of 10 births in Solomon Islands are attended to by skilled professionals,” said Manele.
The Solomon Islands government has rolled out extensive reproductive health programs targeting multiple demographics and health concerns across the island nation.
The country has launched comprehensive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination programs specifically for girls to prevent cervical cancer, while simultaneously expanding cervical cancer screening services.
These initiatives are part of a broader Pacific regional approach to women’s health advancement.
In support of menstrual health and education, the government has distributed reusable menstrual pads to schoolgirls through its national health program.
The country has also eliminated import duties and goods taxes on menstrual sanitary products to improve accessibility.
Beyond direct medical interventions, Solomon Islands National University now offers second-chance educational programs designed for women who left formal education due to pregnancy.
This initiative ensures reproductive health challenges do not permanently impact women’s educational and career prospects.
“My government is committed to deliver access to quality education for all Solomon Islanders,” Manele said during his address.
Prime Minister Manele emphasized that reproductive health improvements, including HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening programs, are progressing across the broader Pacific region through coordinated efforts.
The achievements align with Pacific nations’ work towards establishing a regional gender equality monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning plan to address data gaps and ensure comprehensive women’s health support throughout the region.
These reproductive health advances operate within Solomon Islands’ comprehensive legal framework for women’s protection, including the Family Protection Act 2014, Penal Code Amendments 2016, Child and Family Welfare Act 2017, and the national policy to eliminate violence against women and girls covering 2021 to 2027.
The Prime Minister stated that these achievements demonstrate the Pacific region’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism while placing gender equality central to every decision we take in shaping our future.
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