DEAR EDITOR, as I write this piece I am mindful that there are many hundreds of ex-patients of the Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital (NRH) that have had limbs amputated due to diabetes and who are still awaiting replacement prosthetics due to the closure of the once operational rehabilitation workshop at the NRH and there being no money to rehabilitate and re-equip the important facility.
According to the WHO (quote) “Replacing traditional foods with imported, processed food has contributed to the high prevalence of obesity and related health problems in the Pacific islands.
“Scattered across the Pacific Ocean are thousands of islands which make up three regions known as Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Beyond the image of white sandy beaches and carefree lifestyles, the Pacific islands are facing serious health problems, the prime culprit being imported foods.
“In at least 10 Pacific island countries, more than 50% (and in some, up to 90%) of the population is overweight according to World Health Organization (WHO) surveys”
I am pleased to have observed that a specialist from the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in the Solomon Islands has been urging local community members from the Balasuna area to eat a balance diet every day during meal time.
James Yu, when speaking at an integrated workshop held at Balasuna in North-East Guadalcanal on Friday last week, said “It’s important these days that you eat a balance diet to control non communicable disease (NCD) that is on the rise at the moment,”
Mr Yu went on to say, “Though everyone can have enough energy consumption, how to choose a balanced diet is also important for health.”
He added, “Adequate vegetables diversity is necessary, so we are able to stay away from NCDs,”
More than 30 people attended that training and it my hope that the TTM will continue to teach proper nutrition throughout the country and especially involve school age children and their parents.
The health risks posed by diabetes cannot be emphasised enough and a report carried today, 29 May 2018, by Radio New Zealand really underlines my message.
Quoting Radio New Zealand – May 29, 2018, “Fiji has highest death rate from diabetes in the world with 188 of 100,000 fatalities being attributed to the disease.
“The head of Diabetes Fiji said the ranking highlights the magnitude of the problem and the need for a more proactive approach.
“Project Manager Viliame Qio said people are shying away from medical attention and treatment out of denial and so when they do come forward they have more severe complications from their illness.
“Mr Qio said many people were also turning to traditional healers for help first, further delaying effective treatment.
“He said there needed to be more community education about diabetes.
“We have three amputations that take place in a day in the major hospitals and the main reason is the people are presenting late, they come very late, and they are not coming early. So we want to get people to be educated that they have to seek medical attention first before they resort to other traditional methods or herbal methods,” Viliame Qio said.
“Mr Qio said diabetes is also the leading cause of disability in Fiji and people need to heed public health messages about poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles.”
DEAR EDITOR, following a reported overwhelming turnout for the Gizo-Kolombangara by-election last week, the poll closed with a landslide victory for Mrs Lanelle Tanagada, a former teacher and the holder of a Masters degree from Waikato University in New Zealand.
Mrs Tangada won by a 987 majority from the 2580 votes that had been cast.
Her historic win means she is the fourth women in the history of this country to enter parliament.
The current parliament will now have two female MPs.
The other current female MP being the Hon. Freda Tuki of Temotu Vatud.
The win by Mrs Tanagada has been described as a sweet victory for women in the Solomon Islands.
In 2009 Florence Naesol then the Deputy Clerk to the National Parliament, said “Women taking up senior positions in the Public Service are becoming acceptable among us and I’m seeing a brighter future with Solomon Islands women assuming leadership roles in government”
I too, over the years, have witnessed seeing the value of women’s increasing participation in decision making processes in the public service and across the broader areas of life in the Solomon Islands.
Clearly, from Mrs Tanagada’s election victory attitudes towards women’s in the electoral role are changing, albeit still too slowly, but nevertheless I see change is on the way.
Some commentators have already said the victory is about advancing women in leadership and gender equality.
Another voiced the option that Mrs Tanagada’s win was a huge victory because the silent majority had spoken.
Mrs Tanaganda will be sworn in as a new MP soon.
I believe all will wish Mrs Tanaganda success in her parliamentary role.
IN his closing remarks at a lunchtime banquet held in his honor in Taipei last week, Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela made an interesting remark. As a matter of fact, it is a phrase in diplomatic parlance I have come across for the first time.
It is this.
“The cordial and friendly tie between our two countries is bound by the principle of leaving no one behind.”
It’s a great statement of intent indeed – the principle of leaving no one behind.
Properly adhered to in spirit and the letter of its intent, it is a good principle. It is good because its intention is inclusive and caring. In broader terms, and fairly applied, it has the potential of making the people of Solomon Islands feel they are not being left behind.
However, the phrase stands to be interpreted in different ways.
In many ways the phrase must have epitomised the intention of Taiwan’s multi-billion dollar aid program to Solomon Islands over the last 40 years. Policymakers in Taipei must have felt that no Solomon Islander should be left behind.
In the context of Solomon Islands, nearly 65 per cent of the nation’s growing and groaning population have been left behind in recent years in terms of their share in Taiwan’s funding – more than $100 million each year.
One assumes that education, health and agriculture are paramount in the funding disbursements, particularly in the rural areas. And the annual funding is more than enough.
In many ways we in the Solomons have not seen evidence of any tangible economic growth from Taiwan’s investment because politicians have changed roles with technocrats. Instead of sticking to being lawmakers, politicians have assumed the role of administering and controlling donor funding for development.
As a result, many in Solomon Islands have been left behind. The funding has become divisive in more ways than one. This is why I have advocated the need for tied aid.
In the current free-for-some aid, only those who voted for winning candidates enjoy the money lavished on us by Taiwan, whose intention, unlike ours, it is that the funds be distributed equally for the benefits of all the people of Solomon Islands, particularly the 85 per cent of the population that live in rural Solomon Islands. This eighty-five per cent is a reservoir of resources waiting to be tapped, waiting to be unleashed given the fair and correct policy mix.
Instead of the free money doing wonders in the rural area, in terms of helping people in engaging in small scale businesses, it had turned many a community into them and us.
In more ways than one, the free money has become a weapon of threat against those who used their democratic rights to vote for the candidate of their choice. It is going to happen again when Solomon Islands go to the poll in February/March next year.
Consequently, thousands of rural people will again feel being left behind unless there is a complete overhaul of the current system of disbursing Taiwan’s aid money.
Sadly only 35 percent of Solomon Islands’ population enjoy Taiwan’s money year in, year out. It would seem this would continue into the medium and longer term unless there is a change in direction, purpose and vision.
Solomon Islands will continue to take the plunge down the tube with little hope for a bright future for the rest of the people of Solomon Islands unless there is a change.
Then and only then will the principle of leaving no one behind will be meaningful to the people of Solomon Islands.
Asthma-like (shortness of breath) then took place this year after the period of coughing since 2016 having forced Deacon Kenneth Soaki, (Purotu Katoa), 39, to come over to Honiara currently suffering with a Tracheostomy (breathing tube) on his neck.
Deacon Soaki who was expected to be ordained as Priest under the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) on June 3, will sadly postpone his ordination due to his current critical condition.
Having served as a Novice under the Melanesian Brotherhood (MB) for three years and seven years as a member of the Brotherhood, Soaki has been healing a lot of people during his service with the MB.
He served in Isabel Province for three years, Makira province for two years and in Central province, for a year until later time, he became a security officer at the South Pacific Oil Company for a while before heading back to Isabel province to carry on with the work of the church, by healing people.
In 2013 he underwent courses at Tasia (ACOM Church Priest School at Isabel) through to 2016; he later graduated with a Diploma and became a Deacon.
He was doing his practical, serving the people of Buala at the Jejevo Parish, when he started experiencing these complications.
Island Sun early this week met Mr Soaki (Katoa) and his wife Mrs Loretta Soaki, who has been strong by his side despite the situation, which had also forced her to skip work for over a month now.
Because of the health condition and situation, the 39-year-old Deacon can only speak in a hoarse voice.
Speaking on behalf of her husband at the Chester House to Island Sun, Mrs Soaki described how her husband came to become in his current situation.
“It all started with non-stop coughing since 2016, we came to the hospital early last year thinking that it might be cancer or so but there was nothing found wrong with him then,” said Mrs Soaki.
“Early this year with his coughing situation worsening, we suggested for him to travel back to Honiara so that he would try re-taking a scan to find out the real cause of his illness.”
“On arrival in Honiara was when he started feeling the asthma like breathing worsening, causing him in finding it hard to breath.”
“He arrived on Thursday and it was Saturday he was struggling harder for his breath that he was taken to the National Referral Hospital (NRH). He first underwent a scope before they found out that there was a growth (meat) inside of his voice box blocking it causing the asthma breathing as there was only a small space left to inhale and exhale from the mouth.”
On finding out the cause of Deacon Soaki’s illness, an emotional Mrs Soaki revealed what upset her then was when the local medical Doctor told them that they could not take any more action over the situation as operation for the growth on him is impossible at the hospital. She said the Doctor added on that there were no facilities for such operation.
But the Doctor adding on the opinion that maybe Specialists can do the operation motivated Mrs Soaki finally getting served by one.
“When reaching the hospital, the Doctor told Deacon Soaki that in order for him to breath, he must sign-up to have an operation to his throat in which he desperately signed by himself and had the breathing tube (Tracheostomy) on him finally managing to at least breath in a normal way,” said Mrs Soaki.
“On the night they operated him was around 7.30pm.
“Next morning the Doctor came around again to do check up and called to have a conversation over my husband’s illness in which I only received negative comments.
“The Doctor said that my husband’s case will now be hard to be treated. This is because Solomon Islands do not have facilities to examine how far the growth has grown inside of him.
“So they said they cannot do anything as I will only have to take him back home to keep him well.
“This is how they told me but in my determination, I believe that there is still a possibility somewhere for my husband to undergo further examination and operation to save his life.
“I believe that we are not helpless as the Lord is there to guide and protect us having a plan for every individual.”
She said she does not buy the local Doctors advice as she has hope.
“If the Doctor said Specialists can do such operation then why end our discussion that there was nothing more they can do to help,” questioned Mrs Soaki.
With her strong determination after numerous attempts of calls to the hospital being said to be ignored to book in seeing a specialist, Mrs Soaki’s struggle was rewarded after being assisted then by a government member.
“I was told that Specialists will be arriving on the 5th of May in which I struggled finding a way to meet up with them. This is because seeking assistance from the hospital was not helpful,” said Mrs Soaki.
“When we rang the hospital, they instead only told us questioningly that if we were booked to see the Specialists then what will they be able to do as they will do nothing.
“We still did not give up, upon meeting one the country’s government members in the hospital, we explained our situation to him and told him that we wanted to be satisfied from the local Doctor’s recent opinion to see Specialists over my husband’s case.
“On hearing this, he assisted us making it possible in which we are satisfied from what we hear from the Specialists.
“A reference was made for us and in the letter stated that we still have a high chance if we go overseas.
“Though it will need a big operation but it can still be treated overseas.”
From the news they have received, plans are now being made within their family by working together to send the couple overseas for the operation.
They are now thinking of ways to do fundraisings not ruling out the fact that they understand too that it is not only them who have gone through the same situation in which many have also received help from the public towards such situations.
A hindrance in the Deacon’s current situation also is the delay of his medical report as it has now been weeks. If the medical report had already been ready at the time being assisted by the Specialists then it is understood that the government member was willing to assist him to one of the 10 reserve beds at Saint Vincent Hospital in Australia.
It is now weeks as they are still waiting for the medical Doctors report.
However, the Specialists telling them also that things would be made possible if they were privately sponsored is why they are taking this route.
“Calling and texting for the medical report has not been made possible yet as there has been no response,” said Mrs Soaki.
“So because of the delay is why we are suggesting of finding ways ourselves by doing small fundraisings and so before finding a way to who we can make contact with in order to arrange our travelling. So this is where we are at now in our waiting.”
On March 4 this year was when Deacon Soaki travelled from Isabel to Honiara and on March 7 he operated being discharged five days later resulting in the couple returning to and fro to the hospital for saxon medicine which to them seems quite unfair.
Mrs Soaki had added raising disappointment to how her husband was operated, the attitude in how they were being assisted and the medicines of only Paracetamol and amoxicillin that Deacon Soaki left the hospital with.
“My husband was normal with his sick, it is after this operation he undertook that is now posing threat to his life,” said Mrs Soaki.
“We have been struggling to rub and clean the sore on his throat with local oil products so that the operation won’t get infected.
“He coughs during night time’s not feeling normal with the tube hanging on his neck.”
Despite of the challenge faced, Deacon Soaki is grateful for the support shown by his wife and their family.
He is humbly waiting for possible ways that will help him receive operation to what he is combating against.
On Sunday, June 3, is sadly Deacon Soaki’s scheduled date to be ordained (Ordination) as a priest which will is unlikely to take place due to his medical situation, but Island Sun is also of the view that having helped people during his church service, his critical situation now, also needs help in a way of giving back to his gracious service.
Within these next two weeks, Deacon Soaki will still be waiting for his medical report at the Melanesian Brotherhood Chester House, Point Cruz.
Anyone with kind generosity who wishes to assist the couple in their plans over the current tragic situation they are facing can call them up on 7773302.
Deacon Soaki and his wife have been married since 2009 and despite the Deacon’s wife has left her work for nearly more than a month now, she says her husband is her priority.
The couple is happily married with a beautiful six-year-old daughter who is currently being looked after by immediate family relatives.
UNITED Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) spokesman Mr Jacob Rumbiak is calling on Solomon Islands to back away from Indonesian influence.
Speaking to Island Sun, Rumbiak said this is what they do and that is to cause division.
“The independence of West Papua is coming soon. God is to lead this movement. We believe we can get it. To get it we need the right leader in Solomon Islands such as Hon Manasseh Sogavare to continue with the West Papuan movement to finish what is still ongoing,” said Rumbiak.
“Only one step now as we are happy that something difficult to do during the past two years was when under the leadership of Solomon Islands leading us into the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
“From that move, we have now brought the case to the United Nation (UN) and this is helped by the leadership of this country.
“Solomon Islands must be proud of this achievement and do not forget we have connections, Hon Sogavare’s success to solve this very heavy burden has now got countries supporting us from around the globe.
“Two years ago Hon Sogavare stood up as a Melanesian leader and he did it, so we need him back to finish this movement. This is so that it will also help in the future development of this country which will be bigger from what that will be received from Indonesia. We have more.
“We are Melanesian countries and we have more than enough for our future and the pacific to depend on such foreign countries as Indonesia.”
Rumbiak is also hoping that the current Prime Minister of Solomon Islands with heart as a leader of Melanesia will stand like the former Prime Minister.
“The people’s voice is the truth, so I hope that the current Prime Minister will stand and believe on that voice. This is how West Papua hopes,” said ULMWP’s Spokesman.
Rumbiak in meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) on his visit had received assurance from Sogavare on the continuous support for West Papua.
It is understood that a draft is under plan over the issue of West Papua purposely to get support from other members of Parliament to support West Papua in the UN.
This agenda according to Rumbiak meeting with the DPM is preparing for the upcoming Parliament Sitting around July or the end of this year 2018 before the National General Election next year.
ULMWP’s spokesman who left the country on Tuesday on his recent short visit said he is happy having received positive feedback as well in continuous support from the grassroots level, SICA and government members as he added that the support shown will be proved in the near future.
THE Parliamentary Opposition has called on the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade to ensure the Prime Minister is well versed with the diplomatic protocol of seeking financial assistance from donors.
The call came after Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela asked the Taiwanese Government to donate $900-million to the Solomon Islands Government towards preparation for the 2023 Pacific Games.
The request was included in the Prime Minister’s speech at a banquet hosted for him by the Taiwanese President Dr Tsai Ing-wen during his recent visit to Taipei.
The Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat issued a Media Release about the Prime Minister making the $900-million request in his speech at the banquet.
Leader of Opposition Manasseh Maelanga said the Prime Minister should have made the request during his dialogue with the President and not in his speech at the banquet.
He said the action by the Prime Minister is a great diplomatic embarrassment for Solomon Islands and it begs the question whether he ever sought advice from his top officials who accompanied him on the trip before including the request in his speech.
Maelanga added that if it was the advice from the Prime Minister’s top officials that the request was included in his speech, then the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade should take necessary action to enlighten them and the Prime Minister himself about the diplomatic protocol of seeking financial assistance from donors.
The Opposition Leader said this will ensure that such act is not repeated in the future.
Solomon Islands’ newly elected Prime Minister and MP for Small Malaita, Hon Rick Houenipwela. Photo by George Herming
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has hit back at the claim made by the Leader of Opposition that the Prime Minister requested $900 million when making a public statement during the state banquet in Taipei recently.
The Prime Minister in a statement yesterday asked the Leader of Opposition to clarify which speech he was referring to.
“Can the Opposition point out which part of my speech did I request SBD 900Million from Taiwan? I have never requested anything as such. In fact, there was no mention of any figure of whatsoever during the banquet and even during my meeting with the President,” he said.
PM Hou said the speech was also kindly distributed to local media in Solomon Islands and it would be advisable for the Opposition to obtain a copy to avoid making unfounded claims.
“My meeting with the President was basically to seek reassurance from the Taiwan Government for the funding of the 2023 Games stadium. And no figures were mentioned,” he said.
Hou said the proposal was not new to the Taiwan Government because it had been with them for several months already.
“It is a factual error that is only aimed at bringing a bad reputation to the Government after we successfully reassured support from Taiwan to assist us with the Pacific Games preparations,” he said.
REMAINS of the body of a boy reportedly attacked by a crocodile have been found on Tuesday.
Guadalcanal Police confirmed the finding which followed a search conducted on Tuesday at Singe village, North East Guadalcanal.
Acting Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Guadalcanal Province, Superintendent Nixson Manetoga says, “I can confirm that members from Singe Village have found few pieces alleged to belong to the missing boy’s body and clothes. The pieces found have been put into a coffin for a proper burial; the remaining body of the child is yet to be retrieved.
“This is a sad outcome for the families of the missing child and also for the teams involved in the search. The search is continuing.
“Last night (May 28, 2018), at about 8pm, Tetere police received a report from Singe community reported a boy between 5 to 6-year-old was attacked by a crocodile while swimming in a pool (creek) near Singe Village.”
In light of the tragedy, Manetoga urged parents to take extra care to look after their children and be able to know their whereabouts to avoid such sad incidents to happen in the future.
“My prayers and condolence to the family of the young boy during this time of sorrow.
“I appeal to my people in Guadalcanal Province to report sighting of crocodiles to police so that arrangement can be made for police to hunt and try to destroy these reptiles; for a safer community.”
Family and relatives of the boy have since searched the area overnight but could not find the boy as it was very dark.
Police Response Team (PRT) and Tetere police are assisting relatives of the boy to set up traps to destroy crocodiles at the area the boy was missing in.
Police at Tetere can be contacted on phone 34508 or call Henderson Police on phone 36200 or police emergency line 999 and provide information to police about the missing boy.
THE Western province will proceed and impose a ban on plastic starting in July.
While the provincial government is having an issue with the drafting of a policy paper (white paper), provincial secretary, Jeffery Wickham, confirmed there is no turning back for the province.
Wickham has admitted the government has yet to secure a sponsor to fund the drafting of the white paper.
The white paper is important as it will provide detail guideline on how the proposed ban will be implemented like how retail shops will be dealt with, what are the penalties, what type of plastics the ban will apply to and so forth.
Wickham said the provincial government has approved the ban but there is no draft white paper as yet.
The reason mentioned is the fact the province has no legal advisor.
Wickham said the Temporary Special Measure (TSM) the government had also pursued was lucky that the UN Women comes along and sponsor it.
Currently, work on the TSM is about 80 percent done.
The provincial secretary appealed to non-government organisations in the province to utilise their links and help the province get its white paper on the plastic ban done.
Wickham said the detail guideline of this ban will be delayed but the awareness on this ban should go ahead.
He also encouraged NOGs to help influence the people they work closely with to refuse to use plastic.
