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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

Written by
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

Written by
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.

‘Need to do more’

Written by
Press Release
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Member of Parliament for Aoke Langalanga and Opposition Leader Matthew Wale. Photo Credit; Pacificwin NZ Aus Pacific on LinkedIn.

WALE urges government to watch incoming vessels and students in China

The Leader of Opposition, Matthew Wale, calls on the government to do more in dealing with the Wuhan coronavirus in light of the unconfirmed reports that four crew members of a Bintan Mining vessel currently in Rennell, displayed illness ailments similar to the coronavirus symptoms. 

Mr Wale further calls on the government to seriously look into the situation faced by our students currently studying in China.

“Unconfirmed reports suggests that four foreign crew members of a foreign vessel that went to Rennell Island last week to pick up a consignment of bauxite owned by Bintan Mining Ltd are currently sick with coronavirus like symptoms.  

“They are believed to be still on board the vessel and are said to be monitored.”

“Reports received also suggests that this vessel was not cleared by the ports and quarantine authorities as required under law, before going over to Rennell Island, and this worrying,” says the Opposition Leader. 

Wale said if this is true then this practice of evading the law is a serious loop hole which can undermine any efforts put in place to contain the coronavirus internally.  

He said the ministry must act now to verify the reports and to quarantine the whole vessel to avert further threats, and if there are breaches of our border control laws, those responsible must be dealt with accordingly also.

“Any potential breaches of our laws that threaten our people’s health and safety is no laughing matter.”

The Leader of Opposition goes on to add, “I am also aware of at least 10 students currently studying in China and a lot more bound for China after we switched diplomatic ties. 

“These students are our future and are now at the mercy of this deadly virus hence, it is paramount that our government considers their situation as well and put in place measures to ensure their health and safety.”

—OPPOSITION PRESS

SI in ‘high risk’ areas, prevention efforts continue

Written by
Alfred Pagepitu
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A man in Wuhan is being tested for body temperature, similar tests being carried out by MHMS at our airport and ports. Photo from CNA

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

THE Solomon Islands is grouped with the ‘high risk’ areas regarding the coronavirus and work has started to stop it reaching the country, health official says.

A senior official from the Health Ministry (MHMS) yesterday said this is because China is in the same region as Solomon Islands with a lot of people movement between the two countries.

He said the Health Department and the government had put in place control measures as recommendations were received from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The officer said the MHMS, SI Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration had set up mechanisms to prevent it reaching the country.

He said Under the said Regulation, if any person, who has for 14 days prior to arriving in the Solomon Islands, been in a country where there is a confirmed case of Corona Virus, will not be allowed to enter the country and will be requested to board the return flight or be subject to detention or quarantine.

“A help desk has been set up at the Honiara International Airport for travellers and a flyer containing information on the coronavirus and a declaration form have been issued to all travellers.

“Based on declaration form, you may or may not go through a further screening process,” he said.

“Those without any symptoms but had been to the Wuhan Province of China in the past 10 to 14 days will be quarantined.

“Those who have symptoms will be monitored,” he said.

Solomon Islands has taken their travel restrictions a step further, announcing regulations restricting the entry of any person who has travelled to any countries with confirmed cases of coronavirus, which has now spread to 25 countries and regions —including Australia — with the UK and Russia confirming their first cases.

A statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet advised that anyone who had visited a country with a confirmed case in the past 14 days “will not be allowed to enter the country and will be requested to board the return flight or be subject to detention or quarantine”.

The statement said that in addition to members of the public, these restrictions also applied to Government officials and members of Parliament.

“The Government acknowledges the risks associated with the outbreak of diseases as a matter of National Security,” the statement said.

4 held in Rennell

Written by
Barnabas Manebona
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Asians quarantined in mining operation in Renbel province suspected of China corona virus

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA and ALFRED PAGEPITU

FOUR men are being held in isolation in Rennell suspected of having the China coronavirus, it is reported.

Reports reaching Island Sun on the ground say the four men display flu-like symptoms; “Fever, cough and headache.”

Personnel from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services are said to be heading over to Rennell today to check these four men.

A local doctor close to the issue, speaking to Island Sun on anonymity, says samples of body fluid and other specimens will be taken from these four men and sent overseas for analysis.

The doctor cautions that at this stage it cannot be confirmed that the men have the China coronavirus, this status will be confirmed only when results are sent back.

According to a press statement by the mining company whose operation in Rennell has seen this occurrence, Bintan Mining SI Ltd (BMSI), the ship came here from Qimudao, Shandong Province, China.

“A chartered vessel, MV Expert whose local agent is Tradco shipping limited was chartered to load Bauxite at Renell mining operations.

“The vessel departs Qimudao, Shandong Province, China on 17 January 2020 with total of 25 crews and officers on board.

“The vessel was cleared via Noro port on 30 January 2020. Four crews of the vessel have fever as of February 1st, 2020 that we are concerned that it may be related to Corona virus.”

The BMSI also adds that the four men and “the ship” are being quarantined.

However, sharing concerns on social media, public feel that the whole crew of the ship should be quarantined given the fact that the coronavirus takes a couple of days before displaying symptoms and that the crew including the four suspects have been travelling together the past two weeks.

One comments, “Given their interactions as a crew of the one and same ship for two weeks in their journey to the Solomon Islands, there is the possibility that other crew members may have contracted the virus, if it is truly the feared coronavirus.

“So the health ministry experts going over there should check the whole crew. Do not be complacent, this is serious.”

Island Sun understands that there are some factors that may contribute to the men’s condition which are independent from the China coronavirus, according to accounts by BMSI and Dr Pedical Togamae, that the crew had been working under rainy conditions the day they arrived, before the men fell ill, and that they had travelled across a climate gradient (from the winter in China to the tropical Solomon Islands).

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