Proceedings of a joint meeting between the Norwegian Society of Infectious Diseases and the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Oslo, 20 June 2008.

This paper presents the proceedings of a scientific meeting that was held between the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Norwegian Infectious Diseases Society at Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo on 20 June 2008. Seven speakers updated the audience on recent advances in relevant issues, including international maternal and child health, podoconiosis, schistosomiasis and HIV, leprosy in the UK, rapid diagnostic tests for malaria, delayed diagnosis of tuberculosis and the Global Filariasis Programme. The meeting ended with a series of case presentations.

The malaria burden and population growth in the Solomon Islands.

This paper outlines the result of the control of infectious diseases, and more especially malaria, on the growth of populations in the Solomon Islands since 1931, the year of the first census, to 1976, the year in which the fourth census revealed, that a population explosion had occurred, and was occurring unabated.

PIP: The result of the control of infectious diseases, and particularly malaria, on the growth of populations in the Solomon Islands over the 1931-1976 period is outlined. The 1976 4th census revealed that a population explosion had occurred and was occurring unabated. The greatest population increase was during the 1970-1976 period, when the population rose from 160,998 to 196,708, representing an annual rate of growth of 3.4% per annum. The primary reason for this dramatic population increase is the control of infectious diseases, and to the control of malaria in particular. The control of malaria was most marked since total coverage with insecticide spraying was achieved in early 1972, following the initiation of the Malaria Eradication Program. Along with the attacks on the endemic diseases, there has been a progressive improvement in the coverage and care provided by the basic Health Services. The assessment of a Malaria Eradication Program is carried out by the determination of the Annual Parasite Incidence or API which must be based on full surveillance activities, and the Annual Blood Examination Rate.