Australia deploys medical team to Solomon Islands

In response to a request from the Solomon Islands Government, Australia has deployed an eight-person Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) to support the Solomon Islands response to the growing COVID-19 outbreak. The AUSMAT specialists arrived on a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A aircraft that was also carrying 37,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to support the ongoing vaccination efforts of the Solomon Islands government. The multi-disciplinary team includes specialists in emergency medicine, infectious disease control, logistics and occupational therapy. The team will work alongside local health authorities and provide Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Health with mentoring and advice on the clinical management of COVID-19 cases, the distribution of critical health supplies and infection prevention and control. Reports from the team will also help to inform future Australian COVID-19 support in partnership with the Solomon Islands government. The AUSMAT deployment is in addition to Australia’s total contribution of 300,800 AstraZeneca vaccine doses, and 19 tonnes of emergency medical supplies, including 100 oxygen concentrators and 11 COVID-19 country kits containing PPE and medical stores that have been delivered by the RAAF since 23 January. The Australian Government is committed to standing with the people of Solomon Islands as they respond to and recover from COVID-19. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]