Press release: MHMS Technical Officials Provide Training to Kiribati Counterparts

Published

Thursday, March 27, 2025 - 12:00 PM

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Solomon Islands released a press release showcasing Solomon Islander's expertise in training and administering mass drug administration for NTDs! See the press release below, which makes reference to NTD Unit Manager Oliver Sokana, WSP MDA Officer Johnina Huniehu, and WSP Finance Officer Jeremiah Manehanita. 

"In recognition of Solomon Islands successful efforts in the rollout of its Mass Drug Administration (MDA) on Scabies and Trachoma, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) – Solomon Islands National Neglected Tropical Diseases technical officers are currently in Kiribati offering trainings.

The weeklong Technical and Operational Training Support to Kiribati Mass-Drug-Administration for Scabies and Trachoma (March 24 to March 31st) is held in Tarawa, the capital of Kiribati.

The technical and operational training is aimed to conduct a national Mass Drug Administration targeted to treat over 80 percent of the Kiribati population.

The Ministry of Health’s National Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Progamme Manager, Mr. Oliver Sokana said he and two of the NTD staffs are pleased to be invited and are grateful for the opportunity to provide their MDA technical and operational support to the MDA distribution team members in Kiribati’s health ministry.

“Providing such support boosts the morale of the Ministry’s local staff especially young leaders to gain experience and skills by exposing them in different environment, while at the same time it is important to support our neighboring countries who may lack technical capacity to tackle their health problems that affects the population in the region. Solomon Islands has the capacity on NTD and with my team, we are happy to share our expertise and our experiences”, said Mr. Sokana.

He revealed trachoma and scabies are two NTDs that are widespread in the Pacific Island countries and they caused serious challenges to the health system.

The training is focused on a wide range of topics covering clinical presentation of the two diseases and clinical management. About a third of the training schedule is focused on microplanning which provides in-dept analysis and identification of key strategies aiming to achieve the target of the MDA.

He explained elimination of NTD by 2030 is a global initiative led by WHO and Solomon Islands is seen as the leader in the pacific in taking NTD, and, is taking agenda to regional and international stage.

“This is not the first time the Ministry of Health provides such support to neighboring countries of the region. Similar training support had been provided for other countries of the region in previous years including the northern part of Australia. Such exchange of expertise is great and success story for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Government as a whole”, said Sokana.

Meanwhile, the MHMS NTD Technical Team is grateful to Kiribati’s Ministry of Health for hosting their stay in Tarawa and to external partners for financing their technical mission to Kiribati possible."

Source: Press Release, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Solomon Islands