Malaria will be down by Games time: Dr Rodgers

ATHLETES attending the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara need not to worry about mosquito bites and malaria – as work has now commenced to try and reduce malaria prevalence in Honiara by Games time next year.

Secretary to Prime Minister and Chair of the National Hosting Authority, Dr Jimmie Rodgers revealed this, when farewelling Chef de Missions from 19 Pacific Island countries and territories who were here in Honiara this month (November).

“Just to share with you, the Solomon Islands Government have started a program to try and get malaria in Honiara down to a level where we do not need to worry about by Games time next year.

“We have a strategy to basically clean Honiara, remove all the mosquito breeding sights and reduce mosquito population.”

Dr Rodgers revealed that the Solomon Islands Government will in February launch a whole of Government and Private Sector Strategy focused at cleaning up Honiara City in preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games.

“The strategy will be key to eliminating malaria in Honiara before the Games.

“You can all be assured that the malaria prevalence in Honiara would be low by the time you all arrive back for the Games around this time next year.

“It is and will be our commitment to ensure that when you come for the Games– you need not to worry about malaria, but only about getting your medals,” Dr Rodgers said.

Malaria is a common disease caused by mosquitoes in the Solomon Islands. Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, joint pain, loss of appetite, vomiting and convulsion.