20 June 2019
Solomon Islands: Concerning health reports released
This week has seen some concerning health related issues feature in local media reports and I will quote the details found in articles featured by the Island Sun newspaper.
(Quote)
�The number of HIV-AIDS cases in the country has reportedly gone up.
�According to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services National HIV and STI programme on AIDS monitoring report which was released in 2018 it stated that the country has now had cumulative cases.
�The statement revealed, with the increased cases of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human-Immunodeficiency Virus 30-plus cases have been recorded.
�Out of these recorded cases 15 deaths have occurred, three lost to follow-up and 12 currently are receiving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
�This means that Solomon Islands has now recorded a total of 15 AIDS related deaths to date, dating way back to 1994 when the first case was discovered.
�The report adds the recorded cases also directed the Ministry to expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) to 100 percent coverage in 2017 and this resulted in a declining in the incidence of HIV infection to zero the same year.
�This is a good indicator that shows the country is on track and living up to the commitment to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
�It is a target included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.
�The former Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr Tenneth Dalipanda in addressing the report said Solomon Islands welcomed the new Declaration, which endorses the target of ending the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
�Dr. Dalipanda expressed this �Political Declaration� will enable Solomon Islands as a country to intensify and accelerate her National HIV response, to safeguard that the national response is fully integrated into the broader Agenda for Sustainable Development, and ultimately to end the AIDS epidemic.
�This report was launched last year and it had presented the achievements of the country in the effort to meet its commitments as per the 2016 United Nation (UN) declaration
In a second report it was claimed the Solomon Islands has an alarming rate of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD)
�The Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dickson Mua told Parliament recently that the seriousness of NCD cannot now be overlooked
Mua said at the National Referral Hospital, about 70 to 80 percent of beds at surgical and medical wards are fully occupied by NCD cases alone.
He said this meant out of every 10 beds, seven to eight beds are occupied by patients with NCD.
Further to that, Mua said the number of amputation at NRH due to diabetes is between three to five cases a week.
He said on a monthly basis there are 12 to 20 cases being amputated.
�Based on the 2018 statistics from my Ministry, we experienced one case of stroke every third day and one case of heart attack every 2nd to 3rd day.
Minister Mua said this serious statistics indicate that they failed to prevent and control NCD in Solomon Islands.
He said that business as usual is not an option anymore in addressing NCDs in this country
�My ministry is more determined than ever to address this situation and strengthen preventative measures at all levels and among all stakeholders,� he said.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
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