27 Aug 2007

Solomon's government establish surveillance system to track outbreaks of disease

11:04 am on 27 August 2007

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health is establishing a surveillance system to monitor any outbreaks of disease.

The system is being set up in the Western and Choiseul provinces which were badly hit by April's earthquake and tsunami.

The scheme is being supported by a number of organisations, including UNICEF, as Katherine Gilbert explains:

"UNICEF's been involved, with other organisations, supporting the Ministry of Health to establish a disease surveillance system so that the health clinics that are functioning, can monitor reported cases of different diseases which they may expect to see following the tsunami and can report back to a central information system."

Ms Gilbert says this will enable faster responses if any problems that arise.

A number of health strategies have been put into place following the tsunami, including mass immunisation for measles and vitamin A injections.