THE Bank of the South Pacific has been questioned whether they plan to extend their agents to substations in Malaita province.
A teacher from East Malaita made the query following the need for banking services in the rural areas of the province.
He said at the moment only BSP Auki is serving the whole of the province; this is a source of inconvenience for many who live far away.
“For us teachers especially, we have to travel to Auki or Honiara for the service. And how costly it was to get for the service is always our concern.
“Also there were people in rural areas need to benefit from the service, but with the limit services BSP provided in the province it doesn’t allow them to be part of it.
“So what always remains our priority on the service is for BSP to establish their banking service at the substations in Malaita, so that people in those various regions will easily get there for the service,” the teacher said.
Meanwhile, he encourages other commercial banks to expand to Malaita province.
Teacher said currently only BSP is serving the province and having two or more bank services will sort out some of the issues people face with the service in the province.
DEAR EDITOR, according to the most recent news from Radio New Zealand the New Zealand Government has increased its Overseas Development Assistance budget by $US488 million, lifting the total to $US1.5 billion over the current four year funding cycle.
“The ministry’s deputy secretary of Pacific and development, Jonathan Kings, said $US124 million would be dedicated to a strategic development investment fund for the big issues in the region, including climate change resilience and a land reclamation project in Kiribati.
“But as well as that we are re-orienting the aid programme to reflect this government’s priorities and some of the resources will go to address the challenges that this government has identified that they want to see addressed in the Pacific,” Mr Kings said.
“For example, health and education. gender issues and women’s empowerment issues,” Mr King was claimed to have added.
Commenting on the new development assistance, a research academic at the Australian National University reportedly said using aid to foster a stronger and more prosperous neighbourhood benefited the entire region.
It is understood that Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Timor L’Este are considered by New Zealand as most in need of aid funding. Source – Radio New Zealand
Staff from the Men Against Violence Against Women project in Solomon Islands. Photo by Irene Scott/DFAT/Flickr/CC BY 2.0
Staff from the Men Against Violence Against Women project in Solomon Islands. Photo by Irene Scott/DFAT/Flickr/CC BY 2.0
IT is often assumed that women are empowered when they are able to earn an income and that this puts them in a stronger position to negotiate with their partners.
However, this is not always correct. Neither is the view that earning an income reduces men’s violence against their wives.
In fact, those trying to promote gender equality through economic empowerment initiatives face the vexing issue that their efforts may have unintended negative consequences, improving one dimension of women’s lives but undermining others.
The ‘Do no harm’ (DNH) research, carried out between 2014 and 2018, addressed the question of how to improve women’s economic agency and the security of their livelihoods without compromising their safety.
To grasp the actualities women face in trying to improve their economic situation, the research gathered detailed verbal accounts from women about their work and home lives.
Field research in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea produced 485 interviews – 238 with women and 135 in-depth interviews with well-informed local leaders, both female and male.
The women who participated in this study valued the opportunity to earn an income and spoke positively about its benefits.
But, as they told us, income generation also has negative impacts, including the burden of extra work, difficulties finding childcare, problems accessing markets, and increased demand from husbands and relatives for money.
Overall, we found that partners rarely agree about household expenditure and that womens’ income generation often contributes to marital conflict and violence.
Much of the conflict and violence associated with money concerns men demanding or seizing money from their wives. Some conflicts occur because the husband expects full control of all the income that his spouse generates, even when he has not contributed to earning it.
Other conflicts about money occur over spending priorities for pooled income, wives usually prioritising family needs and men prioritising their own desires.
Some husbands require their wife to ask his permission for any expenditure of pooled income, but do not seek agreement for their own expenditure. If a wife challenges this demand, conflict is likely to follow.
Also, some men become angry if their wife is unable to complete domestic tasks as expected.
Men rarely assist their wives with household work, such as cleaning, cooking, subsistence gardening and child care, even when the wife is working hard to earn income for the household.
The research also showed that many men often reduce their own contributions to the household, or to contribute nothing at all, if their wife begins to earn an income.
At all field sites, women often bear total responsibility for the financial support of the household, even when their spouse has an income. Instead of increasing the pool of resources available to the household, women’s economic gains often result in men using all their own earnings for their own discretionary expenditure.
The impact of men’s resource-depleting behaviour on women’s workload and household well-being is a source of discontent and often results in domestic conflict.
Conflict often occurs when women exercise agency by refusing requests for money or by questioning their husband’s wasteful expenditure.
Many women reported that their partner’s alcohol consumption — particularly in the form of binge drinking — was central to marital discord.
They consistently reported that refusing requests for money for alcohol or questioning expenditure on alcohol was a trigger for violence.
Men resented being reproached by their wives for wasting money on themselves and depriving the family, and this was a frequent cause of men’s violence towards their partners.
The importance of making the potential for violence integral to the design of women’s economic empowerment interventions has been highlighted in recent international literature.
A recent DFID Guidance Note argues that programs to improve women’s business performance or increase women’s income are threatened or diluted by the impact of violence.
To defuse the risk and to optimise benefits of economic development, the authors stress that it is essential for such programs to address violence against women.
The DNH research provides insights into the gendered power dynamics at play in marital relationships, the specific factors that hamper women’s income-generating activities and the risk factors for violence in the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Given the importance placed on women’s economic empowerment by donors, NGOs and governments, there is a critical need to recognise that women’s economic empowerment sometimes entails risks for women that development programming must counteract, something which is canvassed in the three detailed reports from the research (on PNG – including on Bougainville – and on the Solomon Islands).
The research was a collaboration between the Australian National University’s Department of Pacific Affairs (formerly State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program) and the International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA) and funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development program. The research is also summaried in these two DPA in briefs.
Richard Eves is an Associate Professor at the ANU Department of Pacific Affairs.
Drainage at the Kukum market packed with plastic waste and betel-nut husk believed to provide a harmful environment to the surrounding communities.
BY LYNTON AARON FILIA
Drainage at the Kukum market packed with plastic waste and betel-nut husk believed to provide a harmful environment to the surrounding communities.
WALK past the Kukum betel-nut market in Honiara and one could literally feel despair at the huge amount of plastic waste there.
Residents and market vendors tell Island Sun that the plastic pollution is growing, worse still, left untouched by authorities.
The drainage along the road leading to the Kukum market is loaded with plastic garbage, and is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, germs, and odour.
The Honiara City Council has made several attempts to remove the litter but has failed.
One main reason behind HCC’s failure to get rid of the plastic dump there is the continuous careless behaviour of public in disposing rubbish at the drain.
The plastic mountain blocks any means of drainage, leading to flooding of the road during times of rain.
HCC’s Chief Inspector, Environment Division, Mr George Titiulu said council from time to time has removed the mixture of rubbish there, but the issue there is about the consistency of littering on that drainage.
Titiulu urged everyone residing and operating businesses there to cooperate with HCC; one of the reasons too is that the drain also lies within their 7-metre area, which means it is their responsibility to clean it up.
He explained according to the seven metre by-law under the litter ordinance, the shops there already commits an offence and such kind of bulky waste, people can fine with $10,000.
But the challenge is weather these littering is coming from the shops, market vendors, users or residence, he adds.
“More plastic waste accumulate is an indicator of people are not mindful of how they throw rubbish, people are not well inform of the dangers of the rubbish accumulation,” Titiulu said.
In terms of people’s health, the accumulation of plastic waste and blockage of drainage Titiulu said it will implicate negative impacts to people.
This is because of the place will become breading site for mosquitos, rats, and other harmful insects and produces foul smells and it comes to people’s health, he adds.
However, Titiulu said council will continue to remove that mess at Kukum area and people need to be part of controlling plastic waste as well for a safe environment and keep the Honiara Clean.
AS the drugs shortage crisis deepens, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has provided further details on the steps it has taken to address the situation.
Permanent Secretary Tenneth Dalipada yesterday provided the table below which gives an overview and status of drugs replenishment between now and 2019.
In response to questions put to him by Island Sun, Dr Dalipada said some emergency drugs have already arrived in Honiara and are being cleared over the next two days
The status of replenishments of our drugs and supplies with effect of today, Sunday 15 July 2018 are as follows:
Date Contract Awarded to Supplier
Description
Delivery ETA
Status
Comments
April 2018
Interim Order
10 months drugs and supplies.
4 suppliers
Supplies being
sent progressively since end of June
Some supplies will arrive by end of July
Total 10 months supplies will be in the country by August / September.
Once in the country, the supply will cater for the period up to June 2019.
The 2019 supplies are anticipated to be in the country by April / May 2019.
7 May 2018
Critical drugs, dressings and consumables
3 suppliers.
To cover shortfalls in the period leading up to receipt of Interim Oder (‘10 months’ supply)
All supplies
airfreighted and now in the
Country. The final stocks will be cleared from the wharf in the next two days.
This supply mostly addresses NRH’s needs.
We still require an emergency stock up for the country
31 May
2018
Essential drugs, dressings and consumables
4 Suppliers
All these drugs and supplies will arrive in August.
These supplies do not duplicate other orders and are on schedule.
4 June 2018
Emergency Drugs, dressings and consumables
6 Suppliers
Orders have
already been
sent to each of the 6 suppliers.
Airfreight products will be ready for
shipment within 2 weeks.
Sea-freight will be within 2-3 months.
This is the most urgent to address. There are two
components – the airfreight and the sea freight which can come later.
The airfreight component needs to come in from within 2 weeks.
Government to advise Solomon Islands to prioritise Airfreight Drugs and Supplies ahead of other cargo in the next month.
Dr Dalipada said the most urgent action needed now is to bring in the emergency drugs which are shown in a separate attachment.
“If we can obtain emergency airfreight within the next 2 weeks, then together with the critical drugs (already in the country) and the essential drugs ((arriving in August) will tie the country over to when the interim order arrives in August/September.
Financing for the procurement
He also explained arrangement for financing the procurement.
“Existing arrangement with all our prequalified supplier is that will supply to order, and payment is made following receipt of products and validation of their quality. Basically, the only money we need to provide upfront is for the airfreight to the airlines,” he said..
Dr Dalipada said the Solomon Islands Government would be taking over the financing of drugs for the hospital from hereon. This, he said, would be lessened by the fact that SIG would be taking on the total financing of the country’s drugs and supplies.
Meanwhile Dr Dalipada has provided further details on Emergency Drugs and Dressing for airfreighting.
Below is the airfreight part which is being airfreight as well with estimated time of arrival (ETA) and deliveries after two weeks. Part of this list which is very critical, its ETA will be within the next two weeks.
A tribal leader who is a victim of the current drug shortage that hits the National Referral Hospital (NRH) says the next time drugs runs out at the hospital more people will die.
Chief Alo Sangatango told Island Sun he was referred from his Bellona home to the NRH only to find out that there are no drugs.
Sangatango said it was a fearful experience for him and for other patients.
He directed his anger on the government.
Sangatango said to act only when something wrong happen does not say well about a government that cares for its people.
“The government should look ahead before something like this happen. We are suffering when the government acted only when something wrong happens,” Sangatango said.
He revealed when told that there are no drugs he went to the private doctor where he used up the money that was purposely to sustain him while in town.
Chief Sangatango said the government should ensure drug supply is replenished every time and enough drugs are stored in our hospitals and clinics for times like this.
“Be funding or procurement issues that cause this drug shortage, we simply want enough drugs to be stored here- ready for critical times,” Sangatango said.
He said the shortage of drugs experienced is a real frustration for sick patients.
Sangatango said the next time the government failed to see what’s coming- more people will die.
THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has expressed grave concerns over the medication shortage the country is facing that have reportedly led to mix up of medication as nurses and doctors work their best to substitute commonly used drugs for patient treatment.
SICCI urges the Government and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to effectively address this distressing situation of medication shortage at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara as a matter of urgency.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dennis Meone agrees that this is a national issue that requires urgent action and calls on all relevant stakeholders to work collectively with the Government and the Ministry to address it for the sake of our people.
Mr Meone said drug shortages present a challenge for health care providers, but more importantly ordinary Solomon Islanders especially those that are ill and most vulnerable.
“When shortages occur, health systems must act quickly to identify and obtain alternative products to prevent disruptions in patient care, because the health of our people both in Honiara and the Provinces must not be compromised.
“Imagine a situation where lives are lost simply because of communication breakdown.
“I think we owe it to our people to ensure we deliver the best medical services we can afford and provide.
“Let’s work together to rectify the problem,” says Meone.
Prime Minister Rick Hou has called for an emergency briefing with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services on Sunday who confirmed the country had experienced shortages of some essential drugs and supplies.
The shortage was due to a delay in the procurement process for our drugs for 2018.
Meanwhile, Meone commended the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for commencing the 2019 drug procurement process as of June to ensure we do not have a similar problem in 2019.
The order is anticipated to be awarded in September 2018, and supplies are expected to be in country by April 2019.
Special orders for Anaesthetic drugs and supplies are also expected to be air-freighted into the country over the next week.
Meone has also commended the Solomon Airlines for assurance that the airline will accord priority to transport emergency medical supplies as and when they are ready to be transferred to Honiara.
SIG in-country sponsored students’ situation of being halted from Semester Two registration at the University of the South Pacific (USP) has been uplifted.
USP Students Association (USPSA) President Mr Robert Tahi confirming this to Island Sun said USP has discussed with the Ministry of Education over the issue of SIG in-country students fees being not paid last Semester One and it is understood that the fees are now being dealt with along the process.
“The SIG students were already allowed to do registration during Friday on the week before last week but because due to the campus here facing a system breakdown (finance) last week linking from the main campus in Fiji, registrations have just continued this week,” clarified the USPSA President.
USPSA in SI is still collaborating with the Ministry of Education through NTU concerning the following issues of SIG students outstanding allowance payments for Semester, graduating students units being not offered locally here or online, remedy for Education Students whose courses are not offered here at all and the inconsistency in SIG allowance payment to students.
USP standing on its policies, SIG students studying in-country at the USP Honiara Campus were not allowed to continue with their Semester Two registrations earlier due to outstanding Semester One fees.
Speaking with concern and frustration then, affected USP students expressed their fear that if the Ministry of Education and the National Training Unit (NTU) do not address their issue quickly before registrations is closed then their studies will be affected.
The nation’s financial ills is worse than medicine shortage
BY ALFRED SASAKO
WHILE Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela has downplayed the seriousness of the acute shortage of medicines at the National Referral Hospital, there’s mounting evidence the nation’s economic situation is nose-diving – fast.
Public criticisms are mounting that the government has lost the handle on the nation’s finances. There are suggestions that heads could roll as a result of mishandling the timely procurement of life-saving drugs for the NRH.
While the government is frantically trying to deal with the situation, people are dying on a daily basis.
These deaths are either directly or indirectly connected to the shortage of drugs or medicines.
The latest victim was a child who perished while awaiting emergency treatment at the NRH’s emergency ward two days ago.
The Medical Ward is said to be the hardest hit.
Prime Minister Houenipwela told a joint news conference with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr Tenneth Dalipada in Honiara on Sunday that the acute shortage of drugs was under control.
“Urgently-needed drugs would start arriving between now and September,” he said.
Dalipada told the news conference that it was not the question of money as the government had made adequate appropriation in this year’s budget for buying drugs and medicines for the NRH.
“It’s the question of the procurement process,” Dalipada said.
Of the $50 million allocated for drugs’ purchases, only less than $20 million was used up so far, he said.
According to figures published in Island Sun’s editorial yesterday, donors provide almost $900 million in funding various sectors of health services in Solomon Islands.
The Australian Government, for example, provides a four-year funding program at the cost of AUD47.8 million (about SBD321 million) beginning in 2016.
But the nation’s finances are worse than the drug shortage at the National Referral Hospital itself.
Government Ministries too have been hard hit with many officers finding out there was no money to pay for sea fares for them and their families who are going on leave.
It appears the Ministry of Police and National Security has been hard hit.
One officer who spoke on condition of anonymity told Island Sun yesterday that officers were issued cheques to pay for their sea fares only to find there was no money in the government accounts in the banks.
“The problem is when we presented the cheques the shipping companies simply turn around and say there is no money in the accounts. So we are stranded in Honiara, I don’t know for how long,” the officer said.
In Malaita, the Provincial Health Director, Dr Henry Kako said Kilu’ufi hospital has sufficient medicine and consumables for the next two months.
“There is enough drugs to sustain the health needs in the province for the months of July and August,” Kako said.
Meanwhile Dalipada again confirmed the drug shortage is known to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Ministry is working “very hard to alleviate the situation.”
“The turnaround time is 6 months and once you missed that you would be delayed further. What MHMS is doing is to fly in emergency drugs and consumables to get the ministry to August when the interim order will arrive which will get us to June 2019.
“We have already started the full order for 2019. This lot will arrive in April of next year so the interim order that will arrive next month will stabilize the stock between now and next month we are flying emergency suppliers to keep theatre and other critical items available,” Dalipada said.
THE Town Ground rugby stadium will host matches for 2018 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Under-16 championship when Solomon Islands hosts the 18th edition of the biennial international youth football championship.
Sources say the rugby stadium could likely host Pool B matches while the Pool A matches will be played at the Lawson Tama Stadium.
The stadium is expected to be closed any time soon to allow SIFF’s turf specialists to upgrade and do maintenance on it to meet FIFA and OFC standards.
Meanwhile Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Gerald Oiaka said the partnership between SIFF and SIRUF is positive and encourages every federation to work together.
“SIRUF really appreciate this partnership. This is a good partnership not only for the two federations but for sports in general.
“It is very important that all federations work together in such circumstances to help move sports in our country forward,” Oiaka told SunSPORTS last month.
The 2018 OFC U-16 Championship will take place from September 8-22 here in Honiara and will see Vanuatu, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Samoa gracing our shores.
