DEAR EDITOR, a couple of weeks ago I posed the question in the local SI media to what extent the Solomon Islands had, or was, benefitting from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in view of the dramatic impact of climate change on small islands and coastal areas in the country?

No answers were forthcoming.

This Tuesday, I read that neighbouring Vanuatu is to get $US 28 from the GCF. Here are the details.

Quoting Radio New Zealand International – 20 February 2018

“The Green Climate Fund is to inject $US28 million dollars into the Vanuatu Ministry of Climate Change to help the country address climate change.

“The Daily Post says the five year project will address key climate change vulnerabilities and support climate change resilience development with a focus on infrastructure, tourism, fisheries, agriculture and health.

“Vanuatu is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and one of the world’s most at-risk places for natural disasters like cyclones, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

“The Green Climate Fund is a fund established within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“Its stated purpose is to assist developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.

“The GCF is based in South Korea and is governed by a Board of representatives from 24 countries, including most of the world’s most advanced economies.” Copyright: RNZI     (All Rights Reserved)

Yours Sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, a 20 foot container with equipment supplies worth more than NZ$37,620, is on its way from New Zealand and is expected to arrive in Honiara on March 11.

The donated contents of the container were requested from Take My Hands Charitable Trust, based in Auckland, following appeals made for assistance from local NGO’s and the Hearts of Hope Charity (HOH).

The inventory supplied to me today, includes more than 690 boxes of clothing and footwear destined for the HOH on Malaita, over 3000 pairs of spectacles, given by Lions Clubs (NZ) for the Honiara Referral Eye Centre, many items of office furniture for the SIDT, wheel chairs, walking frames, crutches and other disability aids for the Association of Persons with Disabilities, kitchen utensils, a micro wave for the Women’s Refugee Centres, and a multi-power box that could be useful to aiding a disabled person in his/her work.

The container was initially paid for by a kind donation of the SFA and the past President of the SFA, Mr J Sy, has again offered to cover the landing and wharf fees once the container is off loaded from the container vessel.

In the course of sourcing the equipment and supplies for this ‘one off’ container, TMH has managed to open up new donor sources in New Zealand for clothing and furniture and it is hoped that in the future additional help for local NGO organisations might be possible.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking TMH in responding to the call for help and to the SFA and to Mr. J Sy for giving me the support to have initiated this project.

I thank, too, Lions Clubs (NZ) for once more helping the needy in the Solomon Islands with eye glasses.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, more than three years ago World Vision in the Solomon Islands reported that the country’s nurse aid posts and rural health clinics chronically lacked essential equipment and medicine to save mothers and children’s lives

As one reads more and more of the dilapidated and run down state of the county’s rural health clinics I begin to wonder how much more are pregnant women and mothers and children seeking medical assistance in the rural communities scattered across the country getting the help they need from humanitarian organizations in the Solomon Islands like World Vision?

The maternal mortality rate in the Solomon Islands was quoted by World Vision as 100 deaths per 100,000, compared with 1 in 4, 4700 in more wealthy countries.

It was known World Vision was previously working with communities to establish Village Health Volunteers who could assist pregnant women as they prepared to give birth safely and also educate them about maternal and child health issues.

I would hope that Village Health Volunteers trained by World Vision are still able to provide health advice to families and also available to encourage pregnant women to do antenatal check-ups and to prepare for the delivery of their babies.

Perhaps World Vision could comment on the work currently being done to aid pregnant women, mothers and children given what is currently known about the continuing reports of abandoned rural health clinics and in the light of the fact that the Prime Minister had vowed to give priority to rural health clinic problems on assuming office.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

DEAR EDITOR, quoting from Radio New Zealand International – February 20, 2018

“The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre says funding from a humanitarian award will help extend its work in Fiji and the region.

“The centre provides counselling as well as legal, medical and other support for women and children who are survivors of violence.

“The centre won $US8000 as part of the Australian National University’s 2018 Mitchell Humanitarian award.

“Director Shamima Ali said that money was on top of its main funders, Australia and New Zealand.

“She said the #metoo campaign had shone the global spotlight on domestic and workplace violence against women and more work was needed.

“It is not just the workplace, it is schools, it is on the streets, and in our own homes by our own relatives. It is a good campaign to really raise awareness globally but in the Pacific we have really been working on it and this just gives us another push.”

“The award recognises individuals or organisations supported by Australian aid who make outstanding contributions.” Copyright:   RNZI.   (All Rights Reserved)

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT