Islands Business - Health: HIV COUNT ON THE RISE, STIs A WORRY

Solomons' AIDS Council targets leaders

Evan Wasuka
The number of HIV cases in the Solomon Islands has increased to eight since the first case was detected in 1994.

With low levels of testing, stakeholders don't really know the real impact of the global pandemic in the Hapi Isles.

Solomon Islands leaders... at an AIDS awareness breakfast organised by the AIDS Council.

Solomon Islanders don't have to look far to see the impact of HIV/AIDS on a nation. On the Solomon Islands' south-western border is Papua New Guinea, which has the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the South Pacific. UNAIDS estimates that 100,000 people live with HIV in PNG.

If Solomon Islanders aren't scared about the plight of their Melanesian neighbour, they should be worried about the rise in sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) throughout the country.

Dr John Paulson, head of the Ministry of Health's HIV/AIDS unit, says no one knows what the real numbers are but judging by the rate of STIs, it's a worry with syphilis and gonorrhea on the rise.

Conservative estimates from the World Health Organisation indicate that, although the reported cases of HIV is low, Solomon Islands' HIV infection rate will rise to 350 by 2010.

Out of the Solomons' eight known cases, one has died, and only one is on treatment. Health authorities say more will join the anti-retroviral therapy (ART) after further testings have been done.

The body tasked with fighting HIV/AIDS in the Melanesian heartland, is the National AIDS Council, a multi-sectoral organisation led by the government's health permanent secretary, Dr George Malefoasi.

Malefoasi says universal access to ART is the aim but with treatment costing US$350 per year, government does not have enough financial resources to purchase more treatment. It only has enough funds to cater for 20 people per year.

The AIDS Council is now targeting national leaders to educate and mobilise them against HIV/AIDS.

Malefoasi says once leaders are involved in awareness work, the message will filter down to the grassroot level.

Solomon Islands former permanent secretary for health, Dr Judson Leafasia, shares the same sentiments.

He says it is vital that leaders are involved in AIDS awareness.

Leafasia says Solomon Islands' figures are just the first signs of the "first kick off."

"The first case was in 1994, it's eight now and could double in the next two months. When it reaches that stage, then it will really fly."

Leafasia, who has swapped his surgical gowns for politics-to be the Prime Minister's chief of staff-says the implication of HIV/AIDS on development means that leaders need to get involved in awareness now.

"It (HIV/AIDS) has a long incubation period...by the time government rushes into it, it might be just too late."

On World AIDS Day on December 1, non-governmental organisations sponsored a lavish AIDS awareness breakfast at Honiara's Mendana Hotel to rope in the support of political, church and community leaders.

Part of the breakfast included a quiz on HIV/AIDS knowledge by breakfast participants.

The results however were disconcerting, with 14 of the 18 participants getting the first question wrong on what HIV stood for.

Although the level of knowledge by national leaders are a concern, Malefoasi says they have had similar results in the region.

One of the key initiatives to bring political leaders on board, will be the establishment of a parliamentary standing committee on health.

Malefoasi says HIV/AIDS will be one of the committee's key areas.

In 2004, Solomon Islands recorded its first full-blown AIDS case, who has since passed away.

Malefoasi says the experience of health authorities on that AIDS case showed there was much to be learnt in the areas of confidentiality and treatment.

Since then, five HIV/AIDS testing and counselling centres have been set up in the country.

Three in Honiara and two in Solomon Islands' biggest provincial centres, Gizo and Auki.

Twenty-four counsellors have been trained to carry out testing and counsel ling with another four training at Fiji's Lautoka Hospital.

But with 4.1 million new global HIV cases in 2005 alone, certain stakeholders are saying it is the youth and women, the major targets of the disease, need to be part of the response.

Speaking to leaders at the AIDS awareness breakfast, Save the Children's Fund, Rose Maebiru called on leaders to create the opportunity for women and children to participate in the response to HIV/AIDS.

"These young women are the mothers of the next generation.

"We always tell them to support but we need to go to their level."

The impact of the disease on Solomon Islands' young and educated would be catastrophic for the island economy.

But Leafasia says this can be avoided through strict measures.

He says HIV/AIDS can be curbed by looking at three cornerstones of Solomons life namely the constitution, the church and culture.

Leafasia says legislation needs to be changed to address HIV/AIDS and help Solomon Islanders deal with the disease.