Abstract |
The Solomon Islands archipelago consists of nearly 1000 islands, and natural disasters are common, including earthquakes, tsunamis,
cyclones and floods. The Solomon Islands has one of the highest rates of malaria outside Africa. The natural disasters are more difficult to deal with because of ‘the tensions’ – a period of civil unrest that stretched from 1998 to 2003, which severely damaged government infrastructure and the health of the population. Although calm has since been restored, rebuilding the medical, educational
and social systems is a long-term challenge. To improve the health and hygiene practices of some of the Solomon Islands most remote and poor communities, Solomon Islands Red Cross has set up a community-based public health program with support from Australian Red Cross. The program aims to provide communities with the knowledge, skills and long-term support to help them improve health and hygiene practices. In 2010, the program is mid-way through its second three-year project phase. It is called
Tugeda Uime Waka for Helti Komuniti (together we work for healthy communities or THK) with the current project building on the strengths and lessons learned during the first project phase.practices they find easier to adopt, there has also been difficulty in managing their requests for further assistance from Red Cross. In the second phase of the project some material and technical assistance is given to communities as it was seen that support was needed so that people are able to practice skills and knowledge learned in the PHAST training. Contracts are also now being made with communities so that the roles of the Red Cross and the communities are clear. As a result, communities have taken greater responsibility and are more willing to move from knowledge to behaviour change and action. [authors abstract]
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