BY BEN BILUA

A new emergency clinic called Togamae Private Emergency will open its doors in Honiara next week.

The clinic is owned by two brothers from Isabel Province, Dr Pedical Togamae and Dr Ishmael Togamae.

In an interview with this paper, Dr Pedical Togamae said the clinic will provide the following services; general outpatient and emergency cases, lab services includes malaria test, full blood counts and biochemistry tests, dispensing medicines, keeping patients overnight while on treatment, doing patient referral to specialists or overseas and further services includes escorting patients from any destination and home visit.

“This means that you can be seen at your comfort home for nursing care or Doctors’ can come and visit patients at your home.”

He said basic equipment for the clinic is all set except for an ECG machine which is currently on its way to Solomon Islands from Australia.

Togamae adds that laboratory machines and ultrasound machine will soon arrive in the country.

He told this paper that his older brother Dr Ishmael Togamae who has a license to practice and currently working in United States of America is an advantage to the clinic’s set up as some of the essential machines needed were purchased in United States.

Togamae said his brother’s experience working in a 1st world class country like USA is a bonus for the clinic to effectives deliver best services.

“My dream is to have all the equipment that supposed to be in the Emergency Department to meet the quality of care I want.

“In addition to that, learning from my elder brother is a great achievement,” he said.

Togamae said stressed that there are lots of reasons that gave him the strength to establish the emergency clinic.

He said the first reason is to fulfill his late father’s wish and vision, and second is to improve the quality of emergency services in Honiara to save lives.

Dr Pedical Togamae’s father, late Cecil Togamae who passed away on January 19, 2015 here in Honiara is a prominent leader of Isabel Province and he (Pedical) dedicates the establishment to his late father.

By Alfred Sasako

THE Minister for Civil Aviation and Communications, Peter Shanel, yesterday became the first casualty of travel restrictions announced by Prime Minister Ricky Houenipwela earlier this week.

Hon Shanel was on his way to Mainland China, when he was recalled. Details of the visit including whether it was cleared by the Office of the Prime Minister were not immediately clear.

Sources told Island Sun yesterday the visit was supposed to be a first by a Government Minister from Solomon Islands, which does not have diplomatic relations with Beijing.

But Hon Shanel’s recall was not without a hand from Taiwan.

Sources close to the government confirmed last night that Hon Shanel’s immediate recall followed an intervention by the Embassy of Taiwan in Honiara, demanding that the Minister be recalled.

Prime Minister Houenipwela succumbed.

“There’s a lot at stake so the government has no choice but to recall the Minister,” the sources said.

They said Taiwan’s decision to help foot the bill for hosting the South Pacific Games in 2023 and a proposed visit to Taiwan by the Prime Minister in April are reasons enough to convince Prime Minister Houenipwela to order Minister Shanel’s recall.

Hon Shanel was said to be in Brisbane, on his way home.

On Monday Prime Minister Houenipwela announced a raft of measures including a clampdown on overseas travels by government ministers in a move to cut costs.

But the measures are being seen by many as politically suicidal with others suggesting there would be backlash.

Hon Shanel’s recall signals the potential to remove him from a new ministerial line-up believed to be under active consideration.

BY ROMULUS HUTA

SOLOMON Islands international Tutizama Tanito has been described as ‘livewire’ by the PNG media.

Tanito was given the description following his electrifying pace in the PNG national soccer league.

The lad from Western Province is currently playing for Lae City Dwellers known as Toti FC in the PNG’s top flight soccer league.

Dwellers coach Peter Gunemba told the PNG media that Tanito has been very sharp since joining the club three weeks ago scoring three goals in two matches.

“The livewire from Solomon Islands has been very sharp since his arrival this month.”

Gunemba said he arrived two days before the second game against Buang FC and they did not waste him, thus bringing him into the second half in the game against Buang FC.

According to other reports, Tanito impressed the coach and the crowd with his speed and footworks where he terrorizes the Buang FC defence in his debut for Toti City FC.

He assisted 2 goals and scored himself one.

Last weekend, in the game against Madang FC, the coach opted to use him in the first 11 and he scored his second goal by stepping up to get a penalty.

“Tutizama now commomly called by team mates and local fans as “Totizama” is a silent achiever and well known in PNG since his days with former NSL club Hekari United FC,” a statement from the club said.

Meanwhile, another Solomon Islander and defender Andrew Rarangia is also playing alongside Tanito at the same club.