BY NED GAGAHE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has urged decisive national action to address critical health, education, and environmental challenges, stressing that Solomon Islands’ long-term future depends on it.

Speaking at the official launch of the National Development Strategy (NDS) Medium Term Review Report and four related strategic documents at the Mendana Hotel in Honiara last Friday, October 17, 2025, Mr Manele said while there has been progress in some areas, the country still faces serious setbacks in health, education, and environmental sustainability.

“Let me share a stark reality: non-communicable diseases, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, now account for 70 percent of deaths in Solomon Islands. Seventy percent! Our target was 10 per 1,000. We’re seven times worse than where we should be,” he said.

He revealed that Solomon Islands currently has one doctor for every 4,000 people, with the situation even worse in some provinces.

He said access to healthcare, particularly in remote and rural areas, remains difficult due to poor infrastructure, staff shortages, and lack of medical supplies.

However, he said there are progress in maternal and child mortality, describing it as a sign of hope that should encouraged.

“We should celebrate that. But we cannot celebrate ourselves into complacency when so many other health challenges remain unaddressed,” Manele said.

On education, the Prime Minister said while enrolment numbers have improved, quality remains a pressing concern.

“Enrolment without quality is a hollow victory,” he said. “We must strive for excellence, not just in attendance and placement.”

Manele said many schools still face infrastructure gaps, limited trained teachers, and a shortage of learning materials.

Turning to environmental issues, the Prime Minister painted a grim picture of the country’s declining ecological health.

He revealed that over the past four decades, the Environmental Performance Index has dropped dramatically from 51.1 to 26.7.

“Walk through our forests and you’ll see the scars of unsustainable logging. Dive in our reefs and you’ll see coral bleaching, depleted fish stocks and pollution,” he said.

“Visit our coastal communities and you’ll hear stories of shorelines disappearing, of saltwater intruding into fresh water, of traditional food sources vanishing.”

Manele described the environmental decline not only as an ecological issue but as a national crisis that cuts across all aspects of life.

“This is not just an environmental crisis. This is a cultural crisis. An economic crisis. A moral crisis,” he emphasized.

Despite the grim outlook, the Prime Minister acknowledged areas of improvement, particularly in disaster risk management, where the country has become more capable and organized in responding to cyclones and other natural disasters.

“When cyclones strike, we are better prepared, better organised, better able to protect our people.

“If we can manage disasters, we can manage our environment—we must,” he said.

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