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HEBERPROT-P Medication for diabetic foot ulcers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, last week I was moved to read a rather sad story in the Island Sun Newspaper reportedly contributed by a diabetic-inpatient at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) surgical ward which concerned a plea for the surgical ward to have more wheel chairs to aid the mobility of patients having had leg amputations.

I subsequently wrote to say that ‘Take My Hands’ Charity Trust in New Zealand, my partner charity, has promise to freight up to 30 wheel chairs very soon, possibly in a 40 container with hospital beds for the NRH due to sail from New Zealand on 29 August 2018.

Yesterday, I was again able to read in the Island Sun newspaper, under Letters to the Editor, that the same in-patient at the NRH’s surgical ward had made a more significant plea for patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcers,

The plea centered on what the patient described as a Cuban medication for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, citing by using the medication many amputations had been prevented in Cuban hospitals treating diabetic cases.

The writer believed the medication, known as Heberprot-P Medication should be introduced to the Solomon Islands where it was claimed it could be curing diabetic foot ulcers and reduce the need for life changing amputations.

I was not aware of the medication but thought it might be useful for the MOHMS to have some early knowledge of the Cuban developed medication, if not already fully known about.

The most comprehensive review of Heberprot-P I came across was a report published last August in Havana, Cuba and re-published by Xinhua.

Here is the full text

“HAVANA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) — Luis Navarro is a young Cuban who at 34 years of age already suffers from chronic diabetes for the past 23 years. Recently, several ulcers have appeared on his foot, putting it at risk of being amputated…

“However, this has not happened, thanks to a unique Cuban product Heberprot-P, a drug that has sparked acclaim for its effectiveness in controlling and healing diabetic foot ulcers.

“A few weeks ago, Navarro was admitted at Havana’s Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, a medical institution where comprehensive treatment is given to patients suffering from chronic diabetes.

“I had a big wound on my foot and it was pretty bad. The doctors applied Heberprot-P and I could see the substantial improvement in just 20 days. Since then I was discharged and my ulcer is almost closed,” the man told Xinhua.

“This drug registered in 2006 was created by Cuban scientist Jorge Berlanga and a team from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of the island.

“It contains epithermal growth factor (EGF) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient, while being applied by direct infiltration or injections in the wound site closing the ulcers in a period of 45 to 90 days.

“The change with this drug is incredible. Heberprot-P has been the best product invented by Cuban scientists. Whoever lives with this disease knows that foot ulcers improve a lot with this treatment,” added Navarro.

“In 2001, when Heberprot-P clinical trials began at this medical institution, Dr. Jose Fernandez Montequin was one of the first to apply the treatment to Cuban patients.

“According to Montequin, before local scientists created the drug, there were high rates of amputations in the Cuban diabetic population.

“With the application of this medication, we were able to reduce amputation rates in the country from 70 percent to 5 percent today,” he told Xinhua.

“In 2016, out of about 35,000 Cuban patients with diabetic foot ulcers, only 480 amputations were performed.

“We have improved the quality of life of patients and especially mortality.

“Another benefit of Heberprot-P, according to the expert, is that its application drastically reduces the resurgence of ulcers to just 5 percent of patients treated.

“Following its implementation in more than 450 clinics in the island, Cuban doctors and scientists have provided guidance and recommendations on the product in more than 20 countries, including Russia, Kuwait, Algeria, Argentina, Ecuador, China and Venezuela.

“Currently, Heberprot-P is registered in 23 countries and is effectively applied in 10 countries that have already authorized its use and marketing.

“Our product has already been used on more than 60,000 patients in Cuba and around 250,000 patients worldwide, capable of preventing more than 70 percent of amputations,” said Montequin.

“Scientists on the island now hope to see the drug used in China, which currently has the largest population of diabetics in the world.

“Heberprot-P is currently undergoing clinical trials in China for its future use and marketing to diabetic patients.

“Meanwhile, the Havana Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery uses it every day to treat dozens of patients.

“In Cuba, budgets for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers have decreased due to the drug’s emergence. In 2006, we had more than 40 beds dedicated to diabetic foot ulcers, now we only have 28,” said Montequin.

“Direct and indirect costs to the Cuban health system have been reduced with the Heberprot-P national program,” he said.

“On June 30, the Cuban health ministry celebrated the 10th anniversary of the national diabetic foot ulcer program and its treatment with Heberprot-P.”.

Perhaps, the Solomon Island Ministry of Health and Medical Services might wish to investigate whether Heberprot-P could indeed prove beneficial to patients with diabetic ulcers at the NRH and who face the prospect of surgery.

I really do hope so.

Sincerely

Frank Short

RSIPF completes POM training for CSSI officers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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PRT officers during the training demonstration.
ERG officers during the training demonstration.

OFFICERS of the Emergency Response Group (ERG) in the Correctional Services of Solomon Islands (CSSI) are urged to maintain their skills learnt during a one-week intensive Public Order Management (POM) training from August 13-17, 2018 at the Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara.

Trainers from the Police Response Team (PRT) within the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) delivered the training to the CSSI officers.

A second group consisting of 22 ERG officers of the CSSI demonstrated their skills at Hells Point, East of Honiara on August 17, 2018.

Speaking after the demonstration at Hells Point, Supervising Deputy Commissioner National Security and Operational Support, Simpson Pogeava says, “Today you have completed your training on POM.

“I understand it was not an easy training but both executives of the CSSI and the RSIPF are proud to see what you have demonstrated so far.

“It is good to see that we share our capabilities in this kind of training and we will continue to do so as we work together to fight against crime in our society.

PRT officers during the training demonstration.

“I am looking forward for you to demonstrate those skills when you go out into the field.

“Maintain the skills that you have learnt. I would also want to encourage you to maintain the team work and make all effort to implement what you have learnt.”

The levels one and two of the POM training were conducted for two CSSI ERG teams for two weeks at the Rove Police Headquarters.

48 CSSI officers participated in the POM training.

Six instructors from the ERG are now qualified as levels one and two trainers to maintain training within the CSSI.

–POLICE MEDIA

Waste and pollution everybody’s business

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Major provincial challenges and issues.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

MANAGING waste and controlling pollution for Solomon Islands will require national effort that

includes high-level political leadership, effective policy and legal frameworks, development of

appropriate institutional capacity and changing attitudes starting at individual to community,

provincial and national level.

This was highlighted in the National Government’s Waste Management and Pollution Control Strategy 2017 – 2026.

Launched in November last year, this strategy focuses on managing waste and controlling pollution in the natural environment for the next ten years with the vision for clean, healthy and green happy isles.

As the country enters a period of rapid social and economic change, the framework set out in this strategy will try to address waste and pollution from a very practical perspective.

“The major challenges include land availability for landfills, limited financial resources, limited human resources, poor coordination, limited awareness and poor collection systems.”

However in order to address the waste management issues, all stakeholders must play an important role in managing waste and pollution control.

Major provincial challenges and issues.

Many of the waste and pollution issues are said to require collaborative efforts and significant investment of financial capital and broad based awareness campaign.

The strategic plan says to strengthen the manner in which waste is managed in Solomon Islands, there has to be an environment conducive for it to occur.

The enabling environment in terms of policy, legislation and capacity must also be fully realised.

In his foreword address, Environment Minister, Dr Culwick Togamana says the Solomon Islands Government, having recognised the need for waste management and pollution control, developed its first National Solid Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan 2009–2014 in 2008.

“This Strategy has been the country’s roadmap for the improvement of solid waste management over the past five years and has been a catalyst for many initiatives to manage waste.”

Togamana says it emphasised a broad recognition that waste is increasingly a development challenge.

“The timeframe for the implementation of this strategy has come to a close, and the time has come to review the progress of its implementation, reflect on the challenges and lessons learnt and determine what the next steps will be to build on the current progress.”

He said the country’s increasing population, heavy reliance on imported products and changes in consumption patterns stimulated by economic growth also pose significant challenges due to the diversification of waste streams.

“Other prevalent waste streams such as hazardous waste and chemicals, liquid wastes, health-care wastes and electronic wastes were not covered in the previous strategy but are becoming major concerns for the country.

“Management of these types of waste is crucial to ensuring the protection of the environment and people.”

The National Government’s Waste Management and Pollution Control Strategy 2017 – 2026 is said to encompass the management of these different waste streams.

The strategy was developed through an extensive consultative process with government ministries, provincial governments, private sector entities, non-governmental organisations, civil societies and donor partners.

This Strategy addresses five main waste streams: Solid Waste, Liquid Waste, Hazardous and Chemical Waste, Health-care Waste and E-waste.

The Strategy serves as a blueprint for waste management and pollution control that captures the national priorities and targets and identifies the relevant strategies to realise the priority targets in the next decade.

Slowly but surely renewable energy for Selwyn College

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Selwyn College optimistic to generate power from sun.

BY GEORGINA KEKEA

Selwyn College optimistic to generate power from sun.

COME June 2019, Selwyn College will be using electricity generated from solar powered grid.

Revealing this last week before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Meteorology, Dr Melchior Mataki says this project has been long in coming because it is a pilot project and they want to make sure everything is thorough before this project is put out for tender, sometimes in October.

Selwyn College as all boarding schools in the country, do not have access to the national electricity utility grid.

Thus this project is seen as very crucial for them.

Being one of the biggest boarding schools in rural Solomon Islands, Selwyn College have been selected to be a part of this pilot project titled ‘De-placement of diesel powered generation with low voltage solar grid smart system in large boarding schools in Solomon Islands’.

Currently Selwyn College uses 38,400 litres of diesel each year.

The cost of fuel alone takes up 20 percent of the school’s annual budget.

“Just to run a generator from 5.30 in the morning to 10 o’clock at night, annually it costs us $400,000 to just run diesel fuel generator,” Project Manager, Fox Qwaina said.

With 70 houses, on campus, this project will assist Selwyn College in its electricity needs.

The objectives of this project are to reduce the amount of diesel fuel usage and reduce costs on fuel while at the same time increase the availability of electricity and fresh water to staff and students of Selwyn College.

Another objective is to promote clean and environmentally friendly energy technology. This in return will also minimize the emissions of carbon into the atmosphere.

Since the school rely on water pumps to generate water for their needs, going into renewable energy is said to be environmentally friendly and cost effective for the school.

Not only will the school benefit from such an incentive but also neighboring communities and the country as a whole.

Student’s academic performance and health shall be improved with sick persons from nearby communities can also have access to safely stored vaccines from the school’s clinic but to name a few.

At the same time, PS Environment Mataki says one of the ground work which they did was to work closely with the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM).

This is to make them aware of their obligations and what they will expect once the school goes into solar energy.

Mataki says maintenance and safe keeping of the equipment are areas to consider and areas which the church need to understand first before going into this project.

Already this project has impressed the beneficiaries including Committee members of PAC.

This project was brought before PAC because government is the implementing agency through the partnership arrangement between the Ministry of Environment (MECDM) and the Ministry of Mines (MMERE).

The PS of MECDM is the national focal point of this project.

This pilot project is funded by the German Government through their international enterprise GIZ and the European Union.

At the national level, the project is in alignment with objectives four and seven of the National Development Strategy 2011 – 2020.

The project also relates to the objective of the National Climate Change Policy 2012 – 2017 which is to guide and ensure the country benefits from clean and renewable energy.

Also, this project addresses the National Energy policy 2014 which aims to increase electricity in rural households to 35 percent by 2020 and to increase the use of renewable energy sources for power generation in urban and rural areas to 50 percent by 2020.

On the global level, it is also addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SDG 7 aims to address clean and affordable energy by 2030.

Gizo public told to dispose rubbish responsibly

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

GIZO Town Council (GTC) workers have advised public and visitors in Gizo to be responsible and behave when throwing their rubbish.

“GTC will not meet or carry-out exact work to clean the whole township but we need your helping hands through working together and partnership to clean all your wastes.

“Seeing that most people who pollute the township by throwing rubbishes all over are adults and even visitors and school children who never concern about throwing rubbishes but to create waste and they are the ones who not being able to responsible to throwing the rubbishes at the right places.

“Everyone together as one should take responsibility to clean all our rubbish and put it in the right place for GTC workers to collect and dumping at the dump site,” said GTC workers.

They calling on Gizo residents and visitors to take care of the town and be responsible and take ownership of the township because Gizo is the country’s main tourist hub.

The workers suggested that waste management is a serious issue that needs cooperation, thus they are continuing to ask public to help them keep the town clean.

They said that littering is not only unhealthy but also discourages visitors especially tourists from visiting the Western province.

They said GTC workers are now slowly improving the outlook of Gizo town, market places, roads and within Gizo town.

Crime Prevention Strategy training in Central province

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

POLICE in Central province completed another one day Crime Prevention Strategy training held at the Tulagi Police Station on August 18, 2018 for officers who were not able to attend the same training last month.

The Provincial Police Commander, Central Province Superintendent Patricia Leta says, “The training is very important because officers will be up skilled with knowledge to tackle issues in their daily work as far as policing is concerned. Moreover, officers will know how to resolve any issues using the SARA (Scanning, Analyse, Response and Assessment) problem solving model. Six officers from Yandina Police teamed up with officers from Tulagi to attend this very important training.”

“The training is part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy roll out to equip officers with the right skills and knowledge.

“I want to encourage all of the officers to implement what they have learnt during the Training,” says Superintendent Leta.

During the presentations, the Tulagi Police Station Operation Manager, Inspector John Sara covered the background of the Crime Prevention Strategy in relation to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Mission Statement and its aims and objectives with the SARA problem solving model.

Inspector Sara also covered the five main key components of the Crime Prevention Model which is of paramount importance for officers to know how it operates.

Inspector John Sara says, “The idea behind the Crime Prevention Strategy is to work with the community and give back the ownership of resolving issues happening within our communities to our people.”

Police in Central province will continue to visit communities to discuss any crime related problems that needs to be resolved using the SARA model after the Training.

–POLICE MEDIA

Scoping stage on Reparation Bill in Malaita

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

A team from the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace together with other relevant stakeholders are in Malaita province for the scoping stage of the Reparation Bill.

The programme started yesterday at Buma village in West Kwara’ae where women held a prep-session prior to the actual reparation consultation to start today.

Under Secretary Administration of MNURP, Mr Gregory Rofeta said in an interview yesterday that the programme is part of preparation for the Reparation Bill.

He said it’s common for a bill to go through certain processes before it become chained and go before parliament.

“Our coming is to conduct a scoping process of the bill for the people in Malaita. We’ll talk about the purpose and the importance of the bill to the people.

“The process is to discover people’s opinion on the bill, as it will help shape the way it will be,” Rofeta said.

He said the consultation process of the bill is yet to be carried out, which will follow this scoping process, as they eye the bill to go before parliament towards the end of the year.

Rofeta said according to the programme, only Buma village was selected in the province for the scoping programme of the bill.

He said stakeholders expected for the scoping programme include representatives from victims of the past ethnic tension, ex-combatants, traditional leaders, church leaders, women, youths and others.

Rofeta said the official programme will start today and expects to end tomorrow.

More time sought on Sikaiana rape case

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Prosecution has sought further adjournment on the case against a man facing one count of grievous harm and one count of rape to Thursday to allow them to complete the pre-trial conference document on the grievous harm charge.

Bradley Dalipanda who appeared on behalf of his colleague prosecutor Rajah Abe told the court that the documents are yet to be filed and he needs time to complete the document.

Mr Dalipanda assured the court that by Thursday a PTC should be conducted on the case.

Meanwhile Lazarus Waroka of the Public Solicitor’s office told the court the counsel representing the accused is currently on compassionate leave.

However the presiding Magistrate said for the counsel to try and make contacts with the said counsel so that by Thursday a PTC can be conducted.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged rape victim because they are related, faces one count of rape and count of grievous harm.

The alleged incidents occurred at Sikaiana, in the Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) sometimes this year.

The accused allegedly raped his 13-year-old niece at his house when his wife was away.

On that same day, he also allegedly assaulted a man which resulted in the man losing a few teeth.

ENDS//

Former ombudsman faces court on corruption charge

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A former Ombudsman and lawyer by profession has appeared in court yesterday for one count of embezzlement.

ON Monday the defence lawyer, Michael Pitakaka, told court that there are issues needed to be sort out on the case.

This relates to which Magistrate is supposed to hear the trial of the case and secondly where the hearing should take place.

Previously the case was heard by Principal Magistrate Jim Seuika but due to some reasons he disqualified himself from hearing the case.

Defence Lawyer also suggests if the case against Mr Pitabelama be heard in Taro Choiseul province, this is for convenience purposes as all of the defence witnesses are in Choiseul and bringing them to Honiara will be very much expensive.

Pitakaka said he had already consulted the Director of Public Prosecution on the suggested ideas said in court and he responded that prosecution has no issues on that.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to September 3 for confirmation of which Magistrate to preside over the case and also for confirmation on whether or not a fresh trial should be conducted or use the evidence already presented before the previous magistrate.

Elma Rizzu of the Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears on behalf of the Director Public Prosecution Ronald Bei Talasasa while Michael Pitakaka a private lawyer is representing the accused.

ENDS//

Date for LFPI on man facing rape charge set

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

THE court has set a date for the Long Form Preliminary inquiry on the case against a man charged with one count of rape yesterday.

Prosecution told the court that defence has indicated a LFPI on the case and they are prepared and will be liaising with defence in regards to the witnesses they want to call during the hearing.

Prosecution and defence then set a date and agreed on September 17 and 18 for the LFPI.

The accused is facing one count of rape in regards to the incident occurred this year.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea then adjourned the case to September 17 for the hearing.

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