AUSTRALIA PROVIDES $24-M FOR HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Andrew Byrne. Photo: Courtesy of Sydney Morning Herald.
Australia has provided a further $24 million to the National Government earmarked to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
This is part of Australia’s ongoing commitment to improving access to quality basic health care for all Solomon Islanders.
Australian High Commissioner Andrew Byrne says Australia is proud to be working in partnership with the Government to improve health outcomes for Solomon Islanders.
Commissioner Byrne says the funds will help deliver health services to Solomon Islanders across a range of areas such as maternal and child health, medicine, hospital medical equipment, treatment of illness, water and sanitation.
Mr Byrne says fewer mothers are dying in childbirth, and more children are surviving past their fifth birthday.
He adds the maternal mortality rate has reduced by two-thirds and the child mortality rate has reduced by half over the last decade.
Meanwhile, the Australian High Commissioner says immunisation has risen by 20 percent and measles immunisation is now at 95 percent of the population.