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Cabinet approves $20m to support MHMS emergency preparedness and response

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

CABINET has endorsed $20 million in support of the emergency preparedness and response in terms of the current situation, says Pauline McNeil, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

Mrs McNeil said the approval of this budget follows a cabinet paper submission last week by the ministry of health.

She said this money will be shared with MHMS partner ministries to support their work in terms of emergency preparedness and response in terms of the current situation (coronavirus) the country is facing.

She said the ministry is thankful to cabinet for endorsing the money in support of the emergency preparedness and response.     

“The ministry of health has submitted a cabinet paper last week and thankfully to the cabinet it has endorsed an amount of 20m in support of the emergency preparedness and response

“But of course the support is dependent on how this scenario (coronavirus) will take place weather if it escalates then of course it would need a lot more budgetary support and resources.

“We have technical support and assistance from our partner urgency in the ministry in terms of Human Resource capacity, technical assistance and the financial assistance that is the commitment made by the government in allocating the ministry of health SBD20m but of course this will be also shared with our other partner ministry to see that we are jointly accessing the pot of money,” said McNeil.

She adds, “The country didn’t call for the coronavirus to come and didn’t plan for it and therefore the ministry didn’t plan any budget allocation for this emergency.

“I know we are prone to disasters and other natural disasters and we do allocate for disasters but for such emergency like what is happening right now (coronavirus) we have not put any budget aside in terms of our submission last year.”

Dr Yogesh Choudhri, Technical Advisor World Health Organisation (WHO) office in Solomon Islands, said WHO is supportive of initiatives by the MHMS to try and prevent the coronavirus and any other outbreaks from entering the country.

Choudhri said, “We work together in accorded manner to address and ensure that global health security.

“Also we are all in together and we are happy to provide support to the government of Solomon Islands.”

SI awaits test results for 4 coronavirus suspects

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Permanent Secretary for the health ministry (MHMS), Pauline McNeil.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE country is waiting for test results to its first suspected coronavirus cases.

Samples taken from the suspects were sent to Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday this week for analysis and are expected to know what the results are 48 hours later.

Pauline McNeil, Permanent secretary for the health ministry (MHMS), said samples were collected from the suspected cases in the vessel by two trained health personnel, one doctor and one nurse from the emergency ward and have been shipped to a World Health Organisation (WHO) collaborating centre for Influenza in Melbourne, Australia.

 “The samples were taken and airlifted 10am yesterday [Tuesday 4th January] morning to our partner laboratory in Melbourne and the result of those samples should be available within the next 48 hours as of Wednesday 5th January

“Samples were taken from the four suspected cases were all on board and the total number of those onboard was about 45. Four were locals from Renbel and 16 were locals which are not in Renbel but all got onboard. So basically all 45 of them are all quarantine at the vessel,” she said.

Mrs McNeil said the laboratory department at NRH is keeping close track in the movement of the samples.

“Currently there is no detected case in Solomon Islands but we are investigating a cluster of suspected cases on board vessel coming in from China that was the recent mission we took to Rennell Bellona,” she said.

PS McNeil confirmed this on Wednesday 5th January in a local press conference with local media.

Debt choke

Written by
Alfred Sasako
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Solomon Islands National University

Private students top SINU’s unpaid tuition fees

By Alfred Sasako

THE Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is owed about $48 million in unpaid tuition fees with more than half the amount owed by private students, it was revealed yesterday.

Insiders told Island Sun hundreds of students face the prospect of being turned away this year for non-payment of tuition fees, which have been accumulating since last year.

The SINU management has been invited by Government Caucus to address what has been described as an “unfolding crisis” in the tertiary education sector. That meeting will take place next Tuesday.

According to insiders, private students topped the unpaid tuition fee tally, owing some $28 million. Members of Parliament come in second place, owing some $12.8 million in unpaid tuition fees.

Guadalcanal Province is in third place at $7.9 million in arrears, according to insiders.

One insider told Island Sun that SINU has taken a hard line on arrears informing students of a number of measures Management has taken to deal with the growing problem.

SINU has for example informed students that unless their outstanding tuition fees or arrears from last year are cleared, they would be denied registration to attend classes in the 2020 academic year. SINU has also introduced a new measure for new and continuing students

“They must pay 60 per cent of the semester’s tuition fee upfront before they are allowed registration,” the insider said.

“It’s tough but it is the only way to tackle what is a growing problem,” the insider said.

Outstanding fees have exacerbated SINU’s financial situation, given that the Government has never paid up its annual operational and development grants in any one year.

“SINU would be lucky to collect say fifty per cent of the grants in any one year. So tuition fees make up a lot for the shortfall in SINU’s annual budget,” the insider said.

One other insider said the MPs’ unpaid bill of $12.8 million was in the form of commitments that MPs and their Constituency Development Officers [CDOs] make to students without honoring them.

The insider said MPs found themselves in the same embarrassing situation last year when they could not clear their Constituency arrears. The Ministry of Education and Human Resources (MEHRD) had to intervene by clearing the millions of dollars MPs owed SINU in unpaid tuition fees.

It is possible MPs might again ask the Ministry to clear the $12.8 million in unpaid SINU tuition fees this year. “It is possible this would come up in the briefing with Government Caucus next Tuesday.”

Meanwhile it has been revealed that at one point East Kwaio Constituency owed SINU the highest amount in arrears, followed by Central Honiara Constituency.

According to figures obtained yesterday East Kwaio owed SINU about $865, 000 in unpaid tuition fees in the second semester of last year.

“The MP has since paid some but $349, 120 is still outstanding. Unless this amount is cleared, those students whose names appear against the arrears will not be allowed to register,” the insider said.

In the case of Central Honiara Constituency, the amount reportedly owing in unpaid tuition fees is $669, 604. That is the amount that is outstanding,” the insider said.

200 to 300 new cancer cases per year: NRH

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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National Referral Hospital. Photo supplied

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands records between 200 and 300 new cancer cases a year, it is reported.

Dr Soma, the country’s very own Oncologist serving at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) revealed this alarming statistics yesterday in Honiara during the commemoration of the World Cancer Day   

“We have between 200 to 300-plus new cases of cancer every year. These data exposed that cancer cases is always been increasing.

“Our number-one cancer in the country is cervix cancer – the cancer that presents in the lower part of women’s placenta, and number-two is breast cancer. These are the two cancers that were recorded the highest,” he said.

Soma said these two types of cancer (cervical and breast) occur every year ahead of other types.

He said the other types of cancer on record are thyroid (occurs in the cells of the thyroid –a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck), lymphomas (blood cancer) and mouth cancer and all the rest follow suit.

Soma said with this alarming rate of cancer happening in the country, departments at the National Referral Hospital are working very closely to try and save lives of people who are presented with cancer.

“We have been working closely with other departments at the National Referral Hospital, the surgical ward, Medical Ward and other wards to help tackle this problem.

“With the collaborative working partnership we have we managed to cure some as they are still on the early stage but for some cases they were already on the complicated stage so we only provide palliative care meaning providing patients we comfortable life like being free form pain for the rest of the time they live with the diseases,” he said.

Soma adds that despite health care departments working together to combat cancer, they are being faced with many challenges – and one of the main common challenge is patients default treatment, meaning patients do not turn up at the right time to get their treatment.

 “With this, we urged patients present with cancer to come on time so we can help you complete your treatment,” he said.

Dr Geoffrey Kenilorea, Director Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), said NCDs risk factors and cancer risk factors are similar.

Kenilorea said according to data obtained from NRH, cancer is a third most common cause of death at the NRH followed by cardiovascular diseases.

“Cancer is one very common concern for our country and the ministry of health will continue the work through NCD department to support health workers fighting it,” he said.                  

Parliament ‘likely’ to resume in March

Written by
Eddie Osifelo
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Solomon Islands National Parliament

By EDDIE OSIFELO

PARLIAMENT is expected to resume its meeting in March, says clerk David Kusilifu.

This follows Parliament session being in suspense after Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare moved the sine die motion last month.

Kusilifu said so far there is no detail of the meeting but it was hinted by Prime Minister’s Office to likely be in March.

He said under Standing Order 7, 3, the Governor General announces the date of the meeting after consultation with the Prime Minister.

“Our Prime Minister decided on the meet and informs the GG to make the announcement.

“When Parliament receives the notification, it gives 13 days’ notice to inform Members of Parliament of the sitting date,” he said.

However, Kusilifu said consultation has started but nothing concrete has come up with a Parliamentary calendar.

He said at the moment there is no Parliament calendar to know exactly when the meeting starts every year.

“In other countries, they have Parliamentary calendar.

“If we adopt one, by December last year, there should be a Parliament calendar ready for this year,” he said.

In 2019, Parliament was adjourned many times by the Prime Minister to allow work on bills and budget.

Renbel battles with ‘huge’ arrears

Written by
Mike Puia
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Renbel

By Mike Puia

In Tigoa,

THE current Renbel provincial government was welcomed with huge arrears when it assumed office in August last year.

The first arrears the government battled with totaled $40,000, incurred to the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund (SINPF).

SINPF had reportedly opened a case against the Renbel provincial government. The case was eventually settled outside of court.

Renbel premier, Willie Tuhagenga, told Island Sun they had settled the arrear with SINPF resulting in the case being dropped.

Mr Tuhagenga also revealed when they assumed office there was another huge arrears the province was required to settle with the Inland Revenue Division (IRD) of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

The arrears with IRD was around $800,000. Late fees were automatically added on a monthly basis which brought the arrears to the above figure.

After meeting certain commitments imposed by the IRD and negotiations, IRD reduced this arrears to $500,000.

According to Tuhagenga, these arrears were accumulated by previous governments.

He said their government was left to fix it.

The current Renbel provincial government has announced that it has imposed strong cost-cutting measures to control and monitor its finances.

A recent development in the Tuhagenga-led government which saw the replacement of the provincial Education Minister, Richard Tepuke, last week is also part of the measures the current government is taking to reduce unnecessary spending.

The then Minister, who reportedly stayed for extra days at the Green Motel without authorization, has been replaced.

Efforts to cut provincial spending has prompted the provincial Secretary to also issue a memo to all heads of Division in the provincial office in Tigoa about changes to imprest usage.

In the memo the provincial secretary informed all divisions that provincial funds must be properly managed to reduce accumulating unretired imprests.

Check’em properly

Written by
Mike Puia
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Renbel provincial Premier, Willie Tuhagenga

Renbel premier calls on national government to do thorough screening of ships allowed into the province

By Mike Puia

In Tigoa

THE Renbel provincial Premier, Willie Tuhagenga, has appealed to the national government, through responsible authorities, to do thorough checks on foreign ships entering the country.

Premier Tuhagenga made this appeal yesterday reacting to reports that foreign ships entering his two-island province do not undergo medical checks.

Island Sun visited Tigoa, Renbel’s provincial centre in West Rennell, yesterday and was informed of the high number of foreign ships entering the province.

Logging and mining barges and ships moved in and out of Rennell island. These vessels find shelter at Lavagu Bay, Rennell’s main sea port.

These barges and ships are engaged by logging and mining companies that are active in West Rennell to ship out logs and raw bauxite.

The arrival of a ship to Lavagu Bay last Saturday night with four coronavirus suspects prompted the provincial premier to call for proper checks.

The ship reportedly came from China. It also reportedly came through quarantine and customs check at Noro Port in the Western province before heading to Rennell but there was no medical check done.

Tuhagenga said any foreign ship that comes to his province must come through thorough check including medical check on those onboard.

“We are concerned that ships are coming to our island regularly which poses a health worry,” Premier Tuhagenga said.

He said even domestic ships should come through thorough checks by responsible authorities to avoid the transfer of diseases and sickness.

A local doctor, who was flown to Rennell on Monday to get samples from the four coronavirus suspects, Dr Pedical Togamae, expressed that ships traveling to Rennell via Noro should be banned.

“In the future, it would be best to ban any incoming ships coming from these places (countries where coronavirus reached),” Togamae said.

TSL assault case pending

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Admin
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Solomon Warriors FC Tigi Molea slides in for the challenge on FC Isabel United's Nathaniel Mosese during their friendly match on Thursday 30th January 2020.

BY PETER ZOLEVEKE JNR

THE Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Disciplinary Committee is yet to deliver a decision regarding the Solomon Warriors FC and Henderson Eels FC after match brawl incident.

The incident occurred after Warriors title deciding match 2-2 draw with Eels in round two of the TSL season on December 14th.

The case involved Warrior’s attacking mid-fielder, Molea Tigi assault on Eels defender, Derrick Taebo after the match.

Tigi played all the remaining of the league matches without any actions taken which has prompt Eels management to put forward their complaints to SIFF late last year.

SIFF confirmed in a statement on Monday 3rd February that the S-League board are still waiting for a decision from the DC regarding the matter.

 “So far there has been no outcome regarding the case yet, but the case is with the disciplinary committee to deal with,” the statement said.

Meanwhile both players are both named in both teams respective squads for the 2020 OFC Champions League.

Taebo joined Eels after an outstanding performance for the country at the 2017 OFC U-16 qualifiers, has become a mainstay in the Eddie Marahare Eels coached team and has already worn the captaincy arm band for eels.

For Tigi was one of the most important players of Solomon Warriors in the 2019-20 seasons. He scored 11 goals in 13 matches to help his team successfully defend their TSL title.

Taebo and Eels will travel to Lunganville, Vanuatu for their Group D Oceania Champions League matches while Tigi Molea and Warriors will travel to new Caledonia for their Group C matches.

Health ministry advises caution amid report of quarantined coronavirus suspects in Rennell

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Press Release
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Renbel Premier and mining employees witness the arrival of the medical personnel at Tigoa on Monday 3rd February.

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has advised public especially in Rennell island, Renbel province, to practice caution and respect quarantine boundaries amid report that four crewmen of a Bintan Mining company ship are being isolated suspected of having the China coronavirus.

In a media statement on Monday 3rd February, MHMS said it has been alerted to a report of suspected 2019 novel coronavirus persons who displayed flu-like symptoms on a shipping vessel and is responding to the situation by sending a medical team to the shipping vessel that is currently quarantined outside Rennell Island. This team will provide the clinical assessment and also to take samples for laboratory confirmation.

The MHMS is working in collaboration with other government ministries such as Immigration, Customs, and Police and with the support of the Office of Prime Minister to respond to this situation, and measures to prevent the infection from spreading on ship have been implemented on the ship.

The MHMS wishes to advise that the sick people on board are, at the moment, only being treated as suspected cases of 2019 novel Coronavirus. The remaining people on the board are only being treated as contacts and will be monitored for development of symptoms and provided immediate clinical care should they develop the symptoms. The ship and people on board will be released from quarantine once it is assessed that they do not pose any risk to general public in Rennell and Solomon Islands.

For people on Rennell, we would like to request you to ensure that the quarantine boundaries are maintained and advise and directions from health authorities are adhered to. They are strictly prohibited from going to ship. The incident does not pose any risk to the residents of Rennell Island and there is no confirmed case of novel coronavirus in Rennell as of now.

The current public health emergency is a major concern and while Solomon Islands has not had a confirmed case of the virus so far, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is not taking any chances. The health and safety of Solomon Islanders is the Ministry of Health’s main priority.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services would like to request that members of the public remain calm and exercise vigilance by ensuring they follow proper hygiene practices are followed.

1. Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze.

2. Always wash your hands with water and soap.

3. Avoid crowded places and unnecessary public outings.

4. Seek medical advice if you have any flu-like symptoms. Call the public health emergency surveillance unit on 23650 or 7522202 and explain your recent travel history.

–MHMS PRESS

Coronavirus suspects tested

Written by
Mike Puia
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Tigoa police and Dr. Pedical Togamae during the meeting on the 3rd February.

By Mike Puia

In Tigoa

THE four coronavirus suspects onboard a ship that arrived in Rennell, Renbel Province, on Saturday night were tested onboard the ship at Lavagu Bay on Monday 3rd February.

Over the last couple of days, reports of coronavirus suspects arriving in Rennell sparked widespread fear and uncertainty in the island.

In Lavagu Village, which hosted Rennell’s main sea port where the ship arrived, fear and uncertainty was rife.

The ship reportedly came from China. It arrived in Rennell to ship out raw bauxite ore extracted by Bintan Mining Company (BMC) in West Rennell.

According to a press statement by Bintan mining company, the ship was cleared at Noro Port in the Western Province before she arrived at Lavagu Bay.

According to information obtained by Tigoa police, the ship carried about 23 crews. Four of them reported high fever when the ship departed Noro Port on her way to Rennell.

Tigoa police rushed to Lavagu Bay on Saturday night after they received information that the potential coronavirus suspects have arrived. Police issued a directive that the ship leave the Bay immediately.

There was opposition to the directive but eventually the ship left on Sunday morning. The ship was to travel to Honiara for proper check.

On Sunday night, the Renbel provincial premier, Mr Willie Tuhagenga, revealed he was informed Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has instructed the ship to return to Lavagu Bay for check.

A chartered flight arrived in Tigoa yesterday morning. The air taxi brought two local medical personnel.

They had a brief meeting with Premier Tuhagenga upon arrival at Tigoa in which Premier Tuhagenga expressed serious concern about the health of his people and the reasons behind a directive to turn the ship back to Rennell for check.

Dr Pedical Togamae, one of the two local visiting medical personnel, confirmed in the meeting that as of Sunday evening the four suspects recorded improvements to their health conditions.

He said these information were based on information relayed to them by the Ship Master.

Togamae said it is highly likely that the suspects onboard the ship experienced normal fever and flu and not fever linked to coronavirus.

He said had the four suspects suffered from coronavirus, they should be very sick by now or anyone would, by now, had lost his life.

On the contrary, Togamae said the suspects are improving based on charts and reports sent to them by the Ship Master.

Togamae and his companion were escorted by Tigoa police to Lavagu Bay. The chartered air taxi waited for over six hours.

They boarded the ship yesterday under full mask and collected specimen from the suspects who are reportedly locked in a separate room onboard.

The specimens the duo collected were bottled and will be sent to Australia for thorough check and confirmation.

Togamae confirmed they also issued question forms to the suspects to answer.

He said these question forms will help them easily picked up any issue while waiting for the diagnose test done on them to rule out their status.

In Lavagu Village, movements are controlled. Villagers are not allowed to go to the seashore and those onboard the ship are not allowed to go ashore. Most wear simple precautionary masks.

Employees of the mining company (four locals and unknown number of Indonesians) who boarded the ship when it arrived were not allowed to leave the ship until the tests are cleared.

Based on information from the visiting medical personnel, the suspects have recovered and were seen on duty onboard yesterday which comes as a relief to many.

Togamae recommended that any incoming ship from China should be banned from landing in Rennell for safety reasons.

It appears clearance done in Noro Port only focused on quarantine without medical clearance.

He confirmed results of the samples they collected and sent to Australia will be made known in about three or four days.

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