10 Jun 2013

Solomon Islands sees big fall in malaria cases

3:56 pm on 10 June 2013

Solomon Islands has recorded a significant fall in cases of malaria over the past five years.

The government says this is due to the untiring efforts by the Ministry of Health's National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.

A joint review team, with the World Health Organisation, has complated a review of the programme which began in 2008.

The results show the number of confirmed malaria cases has dropped from 132 per 1000 people in 2007 to 44 per 1000 last year.

The Ministry of Health's Dr Lester Ross says the results show Isabel leading the way with a very strong community mobilisation programme.

Isabel recorded just 1 case per 1000 people last year and is aiming to eliminate malaria from the province by 2014.