THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services, through its Neglected Tropical Disease Program, has launched a mass drug administration campaign for scabies in Malaita Province this week.
Staff from the Malaita Provincial Health Authority are administering the treatment across all regions of Malaita.
Reports indicated that scabies is prevalent throughout Solomon Islands, particularly in Malaita, where the contagious skin rash has become a significant public health concern.
The primary objective of this drug administration is to eradicate scabies among the residents of Malaita Province.
One of the Malaita Provincial Authority health staff who visited the Sasale community in Central region of Malaita on Tuesday, Dickson Manuri emphasized the importance of community cooperation in preventing the spread of scabies.
Mr Manuri urged community leaders and residents to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) by encouraging others to seek treatment when health teams visit their areas.
In a letter issued to communities last week, MHMS informed all communities in Malaita about the upcoming mass awareness campaign and drug administration for scabies.
“The Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) program will conduct mass awareness and drug administration across Malaita Province.
“We are pleased to formally notify various authorities within each sector, including communities, schools, and institutions,” the letter stated.
MHMS highlighted that one of the strategic interventions to prevent and control scabies is the mass drug administration (MDA), which is aimed at protecting the population from this serious disease.
Solomon Star understands that the mass drug administration for scabies has already been completed in Isabel and Western Provinces.
This initiative is sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in partnership with Live and Learn Solomon Islands.
By Solomon Lofana
Solomon Star, Auki
