DEAR EDITOR, following the quick intervention of the Prime Minister on becoming aware of the medical drug shortages affecting the National Referral Hospital and many clinics, the High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand, together with the World Health Organization (WHO) equally speedily provided much needed life savings drugs by air last Saturday.

I express my appreciation to the Governments of Australia and New Zealand and to the WHO for the help rendered to the Solomon Islands.

I believe the same partnership approach is being taken by Australia, New Zealand and the WHO in possibly providing technical expertise to review MHMS stock levels and to advise on drug management systems so the MHMS might avoid drug shortages in the future.

Thanks, too, for this important technical assistance.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, a Kenyan based company, M-Kopa, has provided over 500,000 homes throughout the rural areas of that country with solar power systems sufficient to light a home, charge a phone and a solar power radio.

The company founded in 2011 was backed with initial investment by Sir Richard Branson, the Founder of the Virgin Group, including Virgin Atlantic Airways and most recently by FinDev, Canada, to the tune of $10 million dollars.

At FinDev Canada provides support to businesses in developing countries, with the aim to create a favourable impact on poverty reduction through job creation, women’s economic empowerment, and climate change action.

The latest M-Kopa 4 has an eight watt solar panel that charges cell phones, a radio and a torch, via USB includes LED bulbs with light switches, as well as a rechargeable LED torch (flashlight) and a radio,

According to the company, part of the business model’s plan is to offset the danger of kerosene (paraffin) lamps to light homes that are off electric grids^. The system also helps customers who need to charge batteries and mobile phones.

In Kenya, customers pay a deposit of 3,500 KES (approx $35), take the system home then pay 50 KES (approx $0.50) a day for a period of one year to own the solar system.

As the Solomon Islands still has a need for lighting in many rural homes the M-Kopa system could be a practical lighting solution for many people needing an inexpensive and simple to use solar unit.

Should there be local interest in the product here is the website to facilitate any enquiries. http://www.m-kopa.com.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, last week the acting Honiara City Mayor, Eddie Ngava, called on all members of Parliament to step in and render support in what was a national issue concerning the ongoing medical drugs shortages at the NRH and clinics.

Mr.Ngava referred to one MP having donated medical drugs and supplies to three clinics in West Honiara and he called upon the other 49 MPs to render the same degree of support to the clinics in their respective constituencies.

I would appeal to those 49 MPs to follow the challenge set by Mr. Ngava to demonstrate to the country and their constituents their concern for the crisis over drug shortages and to fulfill their responsibilities to the constituents they were elected to represent.

So often one has read of allegations concerning the lack of constituency development and alleged misuse of the constituency development funds each MP receives annually and now would be the ideal time to set aside any such allegations and to help by generously donating money to buy medicines in the national interest or to donate adequate medical drugs and supplies, following the example set by the West Honiara MP, to his constituency clinics.

In the present climate resulting from medical drugs shortages it is more than ever necessary, in my view, to demonstrate “to lead is to serve,” or regrettably be judged in the court of public opinion has not having lived up to the expectations of a serving Member of Parliament.

Please, Honourable Members, do help the nation at this difficult time and those who put you in office for many in the constituencies are suffering illness and need treatment and access to medical care and medicine.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, media reports in the Solomon Islands over the past couple of weeks highlighted the shortages of medical drugs and medical supplies at the Honiara National Referral Hospital and in several medical clinics which meant many people seeking medical attention were asked to buy their own medical drugs and medicine.

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister very quickly intervened in the crisis and assured the nation that the drugs shortage had been a ‘procurement’ problem and the shortages would soon be resolved.

The medical drugs shortages may well be getting better and thanks are undoubtedly due to the timely and generous intervention of several governments, private individuals, the Honiara Band Association, business owners and a Member of Parliament.

It is hoped the reported procurement problem highlighted by the Prime Minister can be looked into and very quickly resolved to prevent the same kind of recurrences.

One government doctor spoke out about his concerns over a shortage of essential equipment at the NRH, apart from a shortage of medical drugs, his difficulty with the hospital’s procurement system and over poor resource funding for health services.

Readers of this article might wish to draw their own comparisons about what the British PM said and the necessity, in my view, of what the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and the NRH requires from here on.

 (Quote)

“Long-term funding

”It is clear that more money is needed to keep pace with the growing pressures on the NHS.

“But it is not just a question of more money this year or next. To meet these pressures and deliver the world-class care that we all want and expect, the NHS needs to able to plan for the future with ambition and confidence.

“Over the last seventy years increases in health funding have often been inconsistent and short-term – creating uncertainty over what the funding position will be in as little as two years’ time.

“This has led to a system of planning from one year to the next, preventing much needed investments in technology, buildings and workforce.

“We cannot continue to put a sticking plaster on the NHS budget each year.

“So we will do more than simply give the NHS a one-off injection of cash.

“So the NHS will be growing significantly faster than the economy as a whole, reflecting the fact that the NHS is this government’s number one spending priority.”

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

DEAR EDITOR, This should serve as a friendly reminder for us. Quote – “A new solar power system on Tonga’s far north island of Niuafo’ou is giving the local hospital a constant electricity supply 24 hours a day.

“The project received funding from the Asian Development Bank, Australia, the European Union, the Global Environment Fund and Denmark.

“The principal energy officer, Kipola So’otanga, said the hospital had previously been powered by a generator which only gave it power for six hours each day.

“Equipment such as electric fans, refrigerators, lights and others can operate through the system, Mr So’otanga said.

“The project received funding from the Asian Development Bank, Australia, the European Union, the Global Environment Fund and Denmark.” Source: Radio New Zealand.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, further to my recent letters in the Solomons media concerning transnational drugs trafficking occurring in neighbouring island states, it is reported today, Monday, 30 July 2018, by Radio New Zealand that another huge seizure of cocaine with an estimated street value worth $US 20 million was found in Fiji.

Quoting Radio New Zealand – 30 July 2018. “Fifty-three bars of cocaine, with a street value of more than $US20 million, have been found in Fiji

“Police commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, said the discovery was on the northern island of Vanua Levu.

“Brigadier General Qiliho says 58 bars of cocaine have also been found on two islands in Tonga and they are the same quality as the caches found in Fiji.

“He says worrying quantities of methamphetamine have been found in Fiji since January.

“It’s the third multi-million dollar drug bust in Fiji this month.

“Fiji and Tonga sit on what’s been dubbed a narcotics highway between the Americas and Australia and New Zealand.” Copyright @ 2018, Radio New Zealand.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT