Malaria is not a problem we have to think about much in the western world, but it is part of everyday life in the Solomon Islands.
A world-wide campaign is being launched to help people protect themselves from malaria mosquitoes.
The village of Iriquila in the Solomon Islands is one of the few with a clinic and a nurse to check for signs of malaria.
The malaria mosquito is rife in the Solomons. The drugs to treat it are readily available but the instruments required to test for it are not.
A single microscope is all that is needed but money is tight – this is a place where even clean water is a luxury.
“So you are giving out medication to patients who you think have malaria, but you cannot be sure because how big the problem is because you cannot test,” says nurse Marlyn Suinao.
If caught early malaria is treatable, but without a microscope nurses are forced to look for symptoms like abdominal pains, diarrhoea, fits and headaches, by which time it is often too late.
There are 36 islands in Western Province and fewer than six have a health clinic – even a primitive one like Iriquila’s.
On some days there is a power problem – the sun may be shining but the solar panel may not be working and help is two and a half hours away.
It is also hard to get the locals to use mosquito nets correctly and take medication. Too often the nets wind up as fishing nets or wedding veils.
Evalitea Abakea has six children. She has recurring bouts of malaria - when she gets sick it affects the whole community.
“Especially with the role that mothers play in our society, it really interrupts or delays most activities. No tonly at home but also in the community,” says health and nutrition officer Winston Pitakomoki.
Tough financial times have forced the Solomon Islands government to cut its health funding to the region by three quarters.
Half of that money is spent on electricity – now, more than ever, these islands need the help of aid agencies.
Aid agency Unicef has pledged to get mosquito nets for 25 million beds in malaria danger zones within a year - for many it is the only safety net they have got.
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