Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands, an archipelago of several hundred islands in the western Pacific, has a population of 500,000 that relies largely on subsistence agriculture and fishing. High population growth rates, coupled with increased migration to urban areas, continues to place pressure on the infrastructure and to escalate the demand for water, sanitation, housing, education and health services. In addition, the country has one of the highest rates of malaria in the world. Internal conflict had crippled the island's economy in the past several years.

Our Australian office is sending medical and surgical supplies from major hospitals in Melbourne. Vitamin companies will provide health supplements, and we are working to obtain medications to treat malaria. Dental and optical instruments, consumables and anesthetics have been offered by a number of private optical and dental companies in several of the major Australian cities. In addition, we have sent four large boxes of dental supplies.

Just prior to the arrival of the dental supplies collected in New Zealand, a Senior dental official in Munda, Solomon Islands, had written of her desperation as her stock of dental supplies dwindled to almost zero. She has been trying to provide both a clinical and a dental laboratory service in the hospital, and was overjoyed at the arrival of the dental supplies we sent.