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MDPAC confident with USP TAFE and IPAM trainings

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Photos of participants

BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

SIXTY participants of the two-month USP TAFE project management course graduated yesterday with certificates.

Speaking during the certificate award ceremony, Secretary for MDPAC Mr Shadrack Fanega said that the ceremony is special because of the growing confidence participants have.

He believes this would go some way in instilling knowledge and confidence in officers to be able to deliver more efficiently the Government’s annual development budget and its 20-year National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016 – 2035.

“Your gracing of this closing today has demonstrate your keen interest and appreciation in the development officers.

“I believe a great deal of hard work and effort have been put into the course by the course instructor Rodger Goodman and the participants.

“I really do hope that you all find the course interesting, exciting and most worthwhile and rewarding and that all participants have taken full advantages of the course and have made the best of the opportunity,” he said.

Fanega said that formal skills in project management are very much sought after in national governments and in the private sector in the region.

He hopes that during the course participants have impressed upon themselves the importance of understanding all aspects of managing development projects in their respective ministries.

MDPAC also believes that with the training, graduates would continue to make a positive difference in the implementation of successive development budgets and the outcomes of the NDS performance reports.

In owing significant debts of gratitude to USP TAFE particularly Roger Goodman, Dr David Mapuru and the staff of MDPAC Strategic Planning Division including Julie Byers, who had worked so tirelessly to ensure that course comes to fruition and reality, Fanega thanks the USP TAFE for conducting the course and their endurance over the last seven weeks.

“I believe that with the success of this course, you and the USP TAFE and IPAM should now be more confident and would look to organising and conducting similar and follow on training courses in Honiara in the future,” he said.

Work on Gizo re-development market project scheduled for May

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Fencing around propose site for Gizo market.

BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

WORK on the new Gizo market re-development house project is scheduled to commence in May.

WESTERN Province Premier Wayne Maepioh told Island Sun Gizo yesterday gabion materials for the new re-development market house project sea wall construction will arrive in Gizo by late May.

He said that construction works to be carry out are building construction, external works and paving, install water tanks and service, test and commission services, operation and maintenance training, fencing and gates, demobilisation and hand over.

“I will yet to confirm the exact date of the completion of the new Gizo re-development market house project,” said Maepioh.

He said that stakeholders have already received the document and design report of the new Gizo market re-development project for approval last month.

“Therefore, on behalf of my government and the people of Western Province, we are all looking forwards for this new re-development market house project funded by Australian government.”

Homebrew banned in community

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

HOMEBREW produce and illegal selling of alcohol has been banned in Voruvoru community at Northwest Choiseul, it is reported.

This action by community authorities has been welcomed by local families.

They say this will help decrease anti-social behaviours in the area.

According to Mr Nerio Ulemiki the media coordinator for Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru reporting, he said the leaders and crime prevention committee have started enforcement of the community crime prevention rules last year in light of decreasing the rise of anti-social behaviours.

“The rules in banning illegal selling of alcohol and making home breweries within the boundaries of the community have been approved by the Community Leaders in which the move is highly approved by the locals of Voruvoru,” said Ulemiki.

Gizo market design document in May

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ALFRED PAGEPITU

GIZO

THE Gizo Market design documents are expected to be completed and approved by early May, 2018.

Western Province Premier Wayne Maepioh yesterday said he is aware that there has been extensive work to ensure the market design is able to withstand a category 5 cyclone and incorporates select elements requested by stakeholders.

“It is still possible to complete most of the proposed works by end of this year 2018.

“It is more likely that the project will now be completed in early 2019.

“A more accurate forecast completion date will be provided in the project,” Maepioh said.

Maepioh thanked the Reeves International for the design of what will be a fantastic building for vendors in the province.

He said he is looking forward to working closely with Reeves International, local contractors and the Australian government toward the full completion of the re-development project house next year.

First project stakeholders meeting in Gizo is yet to be confirmed.

Health professionals undergo 4-day conference today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

ABOUT 180 health professionals from the national and provincial health sectors will sit for an annual Ministry of Health and Medical Services National Health Conference starting today.

The conference is held at the Forum Fisheries Agencies (FFA) Conference room.

This year’s conference is focussed on making strong plans and commitments to implement the Ministry‘s role delineation policy.

The role delineation policy is an important tool linking the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), country’s National Strategic Health Plan and national development strategy to address target areas and reach our goals.

It clearly defines the kind of services and the ‘packages of care’ that are to be provided at each level of health centres in the country.

According to MHMS, the conference is aimed to ensure appropriate services are provided closer to where people live so they can access services with lesser financial hardship.

MHMS Permanent Secretary Dr Tenneth Dalipanda said, “The RDP is the tool to help achieve Universal Health Coverage for the people of Solomon Islands which are our Ultimate Goal.

“The journey to achievement of Universal Health Coverage is a long one and the implementation of the Role Delineation Policy is a significant step in the right direction.

“The policy will help Ministry to improve coverage, access to, and reach of health services to our people in this country, and this is what Universal Health Coverage is really about.”

Dalipanda adds, the Ministry is committed to continue informing the country and people about how changes to the health system will affect them.

“We will keep public informed every step of the way,” confirmed Dalipanda.

Participants attending the conference will be national and provincial health workers, regional and international organisations, development partners, donors, and central government agencies.

The conference is hosted under the theme, “Moving towards Universal Health Coverage through the Implementation of the Role Delineation Policy”.

Transparency, accountability are my priority: Soqoilo

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Peter Soqoilo

By Mike Puia

Gizo

ONE of the five candidates contesting the Gizo-Kolombangara Constituency by-election, Peter Soqoilo, says transparency and accountability would be his priority once voted in.

Soqoilo, who has wealth of experience in accounting, uttered this statement when launching his campaign in Gizo yesterday.

The campaign launching was planned to start with a parade through Gizo town. Since there was no clearance issued by the province, supporters proceeded with the program without the parade.

The theme of Soqoilo’s campaign is “Growth for all”.

He told those who witnessed the launch that he stands before them to declare his candidacy but soon during his campaign proper, he will detail what he stands for.

Soqoilo briefly outlined areas he will focus on if he wins the by-election.

He said tourism is a key sector he would focus on as part of his plans to boost the province’s productive sector saying it is important for the national and provincial government revenue collection.

Soqoilo said he looks to support churches, chiefs and elders in communities and to support women and youth activities.

On governance structure, Soqoilo said transparency and accountability are his strength.

“Having experience in accounting, I can look up reports and tell my people how much money the government allocated to us and where the money goes,” Soqoilo said.

He said he is prepared to be fully accountable to the people of the constituency.

Soqoilo graduated with accounting at the Solomon Islands College of Higher Education (SICHE) – now Solomon Islands National University (SINU).

He has work experience in the field of accounting having worked for the Solomon Islands Plantation Limited (SIPL) and Solomon Tobacco.

Soqoilo was a senior accounting staff of the Solomon Airlines. He resigned from his lucrative job to contest the seat, a move highly commended by supporters.

The Gizo-Kolombangara seat has been left vacant since last November after the High Court disqualified the sitting Member of Parliament, Jimson Tanangada.

Gizo-Kolombangara constituents will go to the polls to elect their new MP on May 23.

Increased awareness of ocean issues in global dialogue

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY ELLISON.T.VAHI

HOSTING the world’s largest connected ecosystem that provides humans with essential life supporting functions and amenities, the ocean regulates our climate and is expected to provide an increasing amount of energy, food, materials and recreational and cultural services to societies worldwide.

Accordingly, environmental sustainability for the ocean is of universal concern, calling for a corresponding global forum for the formulation of sustainable development targets supported by indices and ocean policies and the monitoring of their success.

The development of and commitment to a focused Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for the ocean and coasts could trigger greater international cooperation towards achieving good environmental status of the ocean and coasts, securing blue wealth, and providing equitable access to ocean resources and at the same time support the development of resilient coastal communities.

Heads of Commonwealth countries during the recent CHOGM identified climate change, including sea level rise and acidification, biodiversity loss, overfishing, and plastic pollution as some of the most significant pressures on the ocean, and called for ambitious, coordinated global action.

They affirmed the Commonwealth’s strength in sharing experience and expertise, and recognised its vital role in building capacity in small and other vulnerable states.

Heads adopted the Commonwealth Blue Charter, setting out the principles by which Commonwealth member countries will lead international efforts by sustainably developing and protecting their ocean.

They committed to take action to safeguard the ocean for future generations and has agreed to establish Action Groups on ocean issues led by Commonwealth member countries, which will collaborate with partners at national, regional, and international levels, in addressing identified priority ocean issues of member countries.

Heads mandated the Secretariat to take forward a Commonwealth Blue Charter plan of action to support this.

Today’s situation with a multitude of piecemeal national and regional approaches and policies can neither effectively address the difficulties the environment and especially the ocean face in a coherent manner nor monitor global progress.

The idea to shape the development of the post-2015 area by a set of SDGs is based on the recent UN Conference on Sustainable Development, where member states agreed to launch a process where such goals are defined.

These goals are expected to be based on Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and to build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The ocean received significant attention in the 2013 Rio -20 declaration: “The Future we want”.

MHMS on annual performance review with donor partners

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Heads and senior staffs of the MHMS, donor partners’ representatives and heads of provincial health centres who participated in the joint annual performance review on Monday in Honiara.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

Heads and senior staffs of the MHMS, donor partners’ representatives and heads of provincial health centres who participated in the joint annual performance review on Monday in Honiara.

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has held a joint annual performance review conference with its donor partners yesterday at the Mendana Hotel Conference room, in Honiara.

The conference allows MHMS with its donor partners to discuss reports and come up with a way forward which is aligned with the ministry’s national strategy plan for this year.

The session was mainly focussed on financial reporting which covers areas including public financial management, Annual Financial report 2017 and 2018 financial budget.

Discussion covered centralising procurement, human resources and core indicator reports including human resource report and HIS.

Reports were also disclosed to health leaders about core indicator report and the 2017 MHMS’s achievements against its operational plans which shows impressive progress.

Besides, it provides a space for development partners reporting in terms of analysis of Development Partners support and plans for 2018 and also the independent performances assessment for 2017.

Moreover reviews of the PLF indicators and discussions around an early assessment on (Monitoring and Evaluation framework) have also been touched in the course of yesterday’s discussion.

Present were heads and senior staffs of the MHMS, donor partners representatives and heads of provincial health centres.

Taiwanese direct aid to rural communities

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, last week the Island Sun featured a letter that I had written giving details of the work done by the Aaliua Taiwan Technical Mission in giving practical farming advice to several women from the area near to the Mission.

I wrote the story because it seemed to exemplify the kind of ‘hands on’ help so much needed by people in the rural communities to promote self-reliance and to raise the standard of living of those still having to depend on subsistence farming methods for a living.

I would encourage the ROC government to do more to help the rural poor and I believe the Taiwanese government funded International Cooperation and Development Fund (CDF) could be best utilized to directly improve the living conditions of the communities.

I have in mind the way in which Taiwan provided several mini-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and lighting appliances to several communities in rural Myanmar last year to improve rural electrification needs.

I recall, also, in 2015 the ROC released funds for 15 rural community projects in the Solomon Islands worth SB$7.7.

The projects had been submitted by the people in rural communities and were approved by the ROC Government.

I recall the projects ranged from small business development, transportation, livestock, tourism, fisheries and solar energy.

The Taiwanese Ambassador in 2015 said the funding was extra aid to assist rural communities and was not part of the budget set aside for the Rural Support Community Development (RSCD) Fund.

The additional money, the Ambassador commented, was to support the Solomon Islands Government to implement its rural policy to enhance rural advancement.

It would be interesting to know how those projects developed since 2015 and to what extent the ROC kept in touch and helped in nurturing those small-scale ventures.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Solomon Islands nurses – recruitment, conditions of service, training and further education

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, in an Editorial piece in the Island Sun last week there was comment that the Solomon Islands government should think of spending more money in sectors that matters such as nursing.

The commentary went on to say, “Nursing or healthcare should be a priority for government. We need more nurses. Currently our hospitals and clinics are understaffed.

“The shifts are too long and nurses work under stressful conditions. We cannot expect them to work long hours and be attentive at the same time.”

From my past experience of working in the Solomon Islands I found nurses to be dedicated in their work and in those past years they were hard working and committed to their profession, albeit often working long hours in difficult conditions and especially in rural health clinics.

With an eye on health services since leaving the Solomon’s I have tried to keep track of developments in the nursing profession and, from what I have read over the years, I would have to concur with the Sun’s assessment that more attention should be given to health care and extra spending on the recruitment, training and placement of nurses.

My reading of the situation regarding the recruitment and training of local nurses has been complicated by a lack of a definitive guide to local conditions and services pertaining to nursing.

I had difficulty in searching for answers in the Solomon Islands National Health Strategic Plan 2016-2020 and confused by reading in one report I saw that said by 2020 there would be more nurses trained than there would be job placements for them at home.

The Sun’s editorial piece might now prompt some local reaction in the hope that the true situation with regard to nursing shortages and conditions of services might be clarified.

In respect of scholarships available in the field of nursing I did ascertain that there are several countries in the Pacific region, and further afield, that offer a wide range of scholarships to help aspiring nurses achieve their ambitions.

I do not know to what extent the Solomon Islands government has helped nurses to get external nursing qualifications and neither do I know the specific qualifications needed for acceptance, but many Commonwealth citizens seem to get scholarship places readily.

In whatever way it might help, here are some of the countries making nursing scholarships available.

The United Kingdom, The United States of America (USA), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

In the UK the Barbers’ Company Clinical Nursing Scholarship offers up to 10 thousand pounds to a student pursuing a career in clinical nursing by studying a related master’s in an academic department in the UK or at an approved academic department of nursing overseas.

Malaysia offers Scholarships, fully or partially, to cover the tuition fees for the full duration of a nursing degree at the International Medical University in Kuala Lumpur.

They are awarded to both international and domestic students based on academic excellence, extra curriculum participation and leadership qualities.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

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