DEAR Editor, I write to clarify Australia’s support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
The Australian Government does not require that the Ministry adhere to Australian procurement procedures and protocols to secure Australian funding.
Australia’s funding arrangement is designed to ensure the Ministry complies with the Solomon Islands Government’s own procurement procedures and protocols, including the legislative requirements under the Solomon Islands Public Finance Management Act.
These are the same processes and legal requirements that apply to all Solomon Islands Government funds. The Solomon Islands Government has put these processes in place to ensure the proper use of public funds and to reduce the risk of fraud and corruption in the Solomon Islands public service.
The Australian Government is committed to supporting the Solomon Islands Government to deliver health services to the people of Solomon Islands.
Australia will provide up to AUD47.8 million as direct budget support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services over the period 2016 – 2020 to support the delivery of health services including the purchase of drugs and medical supplies. The Solomon Islands Government is responsible for the administration of these funds.
Australia remains a committed partner of Solomon Islands.
GOVERNMENT really needs to pull up its socks if it wants to get this country out of this mess of dependency.
We have a government that rely on aid, we have a nation and citizens that rely on government and the cycle continues.
People continue to blame government and politicians, government and politicians continue to blame the people.
When is this going to stop?
In this health crisis, it is really surprising to see how people rely heavily on government even for a basic medication.
We have private pharmacies in operation and yet we see people complain about not having Panadol or amoxicillin.
Why not go and see seek a private medical practitioner if you care so much for your health?
We make fun of government being aid dependent while we ourselves are aid dependent too.
We do not want to spend money.
We rather have free handout then even spend money for our health.
While it is the government’s responsibility to look after its people, we as human beings should also be responsible for our own wellbeing, our children’s wellbeing and our family’s wellbeing.
We need to take responsibility of our own lives too.
We cannot rely or expect other people or government for assistance all the time.
This cycle must be stopped and we as citizens of this country need to pull ourselves together as well.
Graduating from being a Least Developed Country (LDC) is not only about having good roads or bridges or house, it is mainly about us taking care of ourselves and trying to be less dependent on other people for help. It is time we as Solomon Islanders stand up for ourselves.
It is time we rise up and make our government accountable like we are doing now. It is time we choose our leaders wisely.
It is time we go back to our homes and try to do something good out of our own lives so that we do not turn up at our MP’s or wantok’s house early in the morning asking for money.
The ‘dependency’ syndrome must stop.
Stop blaming and pointing fingers and start looking at ourselves.
The Solomon Islands Democratic Coalition for Change Government (SIDCCG) wishes to clarify the front page article of the Island Sun issue of Thursday July 19, 2018 entitled “Govt’s Decisive Steps on Drug Crisis” published in the Island Sun on Thursday.
A statement from the Government Communications Unit stated, “The article is not only misleading but manifestly erroneous and false.”
The Government wishes to clarify that contrary to Mr Sasako’s article, there was no Cabinet meeting held, Cabinet Paper nor a Cabinet decision on the involvement of the Government of Australia with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services nor on the possibility of a charter to bring in medical supplies.
“The Government at no point in time, stated or attributed the medical shortage to an error caused by or actions of the Government of Australia. The procurement of medical drugs and medical supplies was and is done in accordance with the procurement rules of the Solomon Islands Government including compliance with the Public Financial Management Act 2013.” The Statement further added.
The Government also wishes to refute the statement made by Sasako claiming the replacement of a Minister of the Crown.
The issue of medical shortage is a sensitive issue and journalists should practise responsible journalism during these times.
AS of Thursday, Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela says few essential medicine are in store at the national referral hospital store.
Hou adds that new orders are expected to arrive today.
He said the stock level of essential drugs at the national referral hospital are;
30 percent of our essential drugs are now in stock compared to only 10 percent three days earlier on July 6
32 percent of our essential drugs are available but in low stock compared to 48 percent three days earlier
38 percent are out of stock compared to 40 percent earlier
The stock levels at the National Medical Store as of yesterday includes’
34 percent of our essential drugs are now in stock
27 percent of our essential drugs are available but in low stock
39 percent are out of stock
He also adds that a number of new suppliers will arrive today from Brisbane and it comprise of;
1.4 million Amoxycillin Capsules
90,000 Procaine Penicillin injections
60,000 Benthazine Penicillin injections
2,000 Atropine sulphate injections
500 Ketamine injection
“The stock levels of essential drugs and consumable such as dressings and needles, catheters, tubes etc will continue to build slowly over the next two months as drugs and consumables ordered between April and June will arrive” he said.
“We expect to be in full stock of every essential item by September this year.”
Hou said they have seen small improvements in the stock level of essential medicines resulting from receipt of some of its orders over the past week—but nowhere near enough improvement.
However, over the next two-months, before our stock is back to normal, we will continue to experience shortage in some essential drugs and suppliers.
Despite the medicines in stock, Hou said Solomon Islands will still experiencing serious shortages in some essentials drugs needed.
“We anticipate being back to normal suppliers within next two-month when our various orders (five in total) made between April and June this year all arrive in the country,” he said.
He assures that services will continue to be provided from all health facilities depending on what is available at each facility, the nature and level of services provided may vary.
ESTABLISHING the anti corruption act or whatever fancy laws to fight the course, will not stop corruption to thrive in the country’s governance system if the government does not deal with its root cause.
The issue of corruption in the country is not something that needs someone to be rocket scientist to realise its existence and those in power have failed to see that the root cause is dealt with first.
Member of Parliament for Shortlands, Chris Laore made the statement when contributing to the debates into the Anti-Corruption Bill 2017 yesterday, who suggested that the people who carry out the work for the government are part and partial of the root-cause he was referring to.
In his contribution, the Shortlands MP pointed out that instead of looking directly at the bill as the only solution to fight corruption, the government should look at why corruption has happened, and why corruption is thriving like cancer in our country.
He then called for the review in the packages and welfare of public servants as the solution to curbing corruption because, he stressed that no laws in the world will eradicate corruption but can only help reduce it as it will always be there.
“Despite owning almost all the resources, our people are still poor, why? It’s a question we ask our government system, and the system needs to realise that it is a must to review the welfare of our public servants
“Tell you, the salary level is bad, in my case for example, I have worked 21 years as a public servant, but 21 years of struggling, because of the system, which has been badly infected by corruption.
“It is a matter of social inequality, and good salaries for public servants vs water, power, and other necessary bills and the prices of goods and services are going up, how can a public servant survive this?” Laore asked.
The system has really affected us. Like fuel for another example, in Honiara, the price would be at $10 per litre, and doubles when it gets to the provinces. So it all comes back to the system, and that’s why I reiterate my calls for the governments look at salary scale levels of public servants.
He said the government continues to fail its people to as the talks are cheaply surrounding increment, which he questioned it.
He said increment is point zero one every year and that, he added, is almost 20 cents promotion every year, and that comes down to the is of promoting others and contradicting the other side of things, which is purely corruption in itself.
Laore however highlighted that if he was Prime Minister, he would push to improve the structures of all public servants, going up to a place where they can be sustained up to the next pay day, with a bit for their wants, education and other related matters.
“Like I said, social inequality is one of the major root cause of corruption that we talk too much about as they are inter-related
He further suggested that for the remaining months that are left, he reiterated his urging for the government to improve the packages of public servants.
“…because if you don’t do that, the new goods tax bill that is coming, if enacted, will have even heavier impact on them and that will just allow for corruption to thrive in the system
“We do not feel the effect because I think we have more than enough, but the lower brackets will go worse in these corrupt practices, and like I stressed that I’m not here to talk about the bill, but to talk about the system, which already has corruption eating up its core,” he further added.
The opposition MP then warned the government to be mindful after passing the law, especially those people who travel with their spouses using public funds, and illustrated the case of the Prime Minister of Malaysia who was recently arrested by the anti-corruption, for using government funds to pay for his wife’s credit card.
“But his wife is not an honourable or a member of parliament, therefore, be careful. Like I said, it is a system we create to destroy us because we have not dealt with the actual root cause of the matter,” the Shortland MP said.
He went on to add that the root cause will continue to harness even with the Anti Corruption law’s establishment, because in the Solomon Islands context, not a whole household has a job, maybe one or two out of the rest will have a job, and that means, there is a huge reliance on the employed few.
“So the question is, where will that public servant get the needed funds to meet the need and demands for a heavy reliance on them to sustain them up to the next pay day? He will certainly receive bribes anywhere or even steal.
“We are not addressing the root cause of corruption. All we do is trying to kill our people who worked their hearts out to serve the interests and make money for the government, but are continuously being looked down on.
“So I ask you the government, improve the structures of public services so that no corruption would ever come up because they will be able to meet their needs at the end of the day, so they can work without financial and economic influences.
“And anybody who does that after, that’s where the bill will deal with thoroughly deal with,” the MP further stressed.
He further suggested that the cycle will continue, despite whatever quotes and approaches taken or talked about.
“I was also tempted to write an essay like a novel on corruption to present in my debate, but I thought it would be useless. All we need to realise and deal with is the cycle within the system in order to deal with corruption,” Laore further pointed out.
He added that even if we pass the bill, corruption will continue to thrive and like a ripe fruit, it will never reverse its cycle and will end up rot and it’s the same with the anti-corruption, which if we do not deal with its core problem, will leave to rot in our country.
RENNELL and Bellona province is celebrating their 25th Second Appointed Day in the province’s main station, Tigoa today.
In a media conference yesterday, Commissioner of Police, Matthew Varley says the Royal Solomon Islands Police Band will also be performing at the official celebration of the province.
Commissioner Varley says RSIPF is pleased to support Rennell Bellona on this important occasion and to take part in the community event.
“And so we also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Renbel Premier, the provincial government and the people of the Rennell Bellona province on this second appointed day. Obviously we are proud to support this community event through the RSIPF band.”
Varley said he hopes celebrations will be carried out peacefully and encourages the people of Renbel to enjoy their second appointed day in a peaceful manner.
Prime Minister Hou made a personal visit to the National Referral Hospital
BY GEORGINA KEKEA
THE Prime Minister’s visit to the National Referral Hospital on Thursday to see firsthand the dire situation of medical shortage revealed more than just the dire medicine issue.
The Prime Minister and his delegates were confronted with the stark reality of the issues likeminded Solomon Islanders face every day.
In the medical laboratory, Dr Culwick Togamana, Environment Minister who was part of the entourage said he is appalled by the rundown condition of the laboratory.
He was quite emotional when he saw first -hand the working environment and state of the laboratory.
“I am really appalled at the stage of this lab. I have been teaching chemistry for 20 years but I cannot expect to work in a lab like this. I mean this is something critical for the lives of our people,” Togamana said.
The high level delegation were informed that the air condition units in most of the NRH office’s are not functioning properly with some important machines now defunct because the environment is not conducive for them.
“Some of these machines needs cooler temperature in order for them to function well,” a staff from the Laboratory said.
At the same time Togamana said staff from the medical laboratory should no longer work in their current office.
“The point is they shouldn’t remain here. They should be stationed somewhere else to sit down and work. They are spending 24 hours here, this is a health safety issue,” Togamana said.
Meanwhile when asked by Island Sun, Prime Minister Rick Hou says the state of the NRH issue is a long term issue which needs to be addressed.
“We’ve just been to the laboratory. It’s in a dire state. These people here are kind of operating in an environment which is not very healthy. It is something which government must prioritise,” PM Hou said.
What turned out to be an investigation on the medicine shortage has dug up more than what the PM has anticipated for and one which clearly shows lack of good management and leadership.
One can only sympathise with the Prime Minister when one fact finding mission only leads to one more drastic then the medicine issue.
PM Hou was accompanied by the Health and Environment Ministers and other staff from his office. On the other hand, he was quite pleased to see that the supply of medicines is slowly being corrected.
MEMBER of Parliament for Central Honiara, Moffat Fugui has expressed disappointments over the short time frame given to members, especially those from the opposition and independent groups, to go through the report of the Anti-Corruption Bill 2017, in preparation for its deliberation.
Following its first and second readings, th government went on to push for the Bill to be debated, which according to Fugui, was short notice for them as the report was only served to them in the morning of its insertion to the business of parliament.
This according to most opposition and independent MPs interviewed has resulted in decisions by members to skip the second set of sitting in the afternoon, which also forced an adjournment to all debates.
Fugui however stressed that with such an important bill, it was also important that those who will debate it are well prepared so the matters highlighted are well within the bill.
In acknowledging the Prime Minister over what he described as a brave move, the Central Honiara MP expressed his disappointment over the little time MPs were given to prepare themselves to engage in debate on what he also termed as a very significant legislation bill.
The Central Honiara MP then pointed out that one of the reasons bills are afforded such time after bills are moved on the floor of parliament, is for members to have ample opportunity to prepare themselves for the ensuing debate
“Honourable speaker sir, unlike the flimsy reasons given, members of parliament in the end are not afforded the time necessary for preparations for debate on this bill,” the Independent MP said.
He added that in the absence of ample time in the first day of meeting, members of parliament had to vote with their feet, and not attending parliament in the afternoon
He further added that the PM and the Speaker should realise this and ensure it does not happen in similar situation in the future, with regards to important bills as such.
Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition and MP for Small Malaita Hon Rick Hou.
By Alfred Sasako
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has pointed to a “breakdown in management” as the source of the drugs crisis being faced by the National Referral Hospital and the Honiara City Council
“There was lack of leadership. It’s a management lapse,” Prime Minister Houenipwela told a news conference yesterday morning.
He assured members of the public, particularly those living in Honiara that the Government “is leaving no stones unturned” as the Office of the Prime Minister took charge of the crisis.
Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr Jimmy Rogers told the news conference that the entire arrangement would be “fully mobilised by next week.”
In the meantime, the government is sourcing emergency drugs and flying them to Honiara on the first available transport. A batch of emergency drugs is due to arrive in Honiara by air before midday today (Friday).
The Government, he said, is talking with donors to see what they could do to assist.
Prime Minister Houenipwela yesterday met Papua New Guinea’s outgoing High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Fred Yakasa. No details of their discussion were available at the time of going to print.
Meanwhile he denied Cabinet had decided to end Australia’s help in funding drugs through its five-year health sector funding.
An interim audit undertaken over the last two days found that Malaita and Temotu Provinces each have in stocks sufficient drugs including emergency drugs for the next two months.
“Some of these are being shipped to the National Referral Hospital,” Dr Rogers said.
He also said that drugs for 2019 have been ordered and “by September this year, we’ll be fully stocked.”
POLICE at Taro in the Choiseul Province have arrested a 37-year-old suspect for an alleged unlawful wounding incident at Tuzu Village in South Choiseul on July 17, 2018.
The suspect has been placed in police custody as investigations into the incident continue.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Choiseul Province Superintendent Vincent Eria says, “The alleged unlawful wounding incident occurred at Tuzu Village, South Choiseul and was reported via satellite phone by a member of the community in that area.
“It is alleged the victim was attacked by the suspect with a knife chopping off one of his fingers.
“It is further alleged the suspect also damaged the victim’s 60 horse power outboard motor (OBM) engine.
“It is a sad incident and police will not tolerate this kind of behavior and attitude in our communities.
“I appeal to both parties involved to refrain from taking the law in your own hands but allow police to investigate the matter,” says Superintendent Eria.
“I encourage members of the communities in around Tuzu Village come forward and assist police with its investigation.
“You can contact officers at the Taro Police Station on phone 63199 or call the Police National Communication Centre on 23666 or the Police Toll Free line 999.”
