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Taiwan brings healthy diet to Visale

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Team from Taiwan Health Centre group photo with students of the Visale Community High School after conducting health training program on Health and Nutrition Evaluation for School Age Children and Adolescent

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

 

Team from Taiwan Health Centre group photo with students of the Visale Community High School after conducting health training program on Health and Nutrition Evaluation for School Age Children and Adolescent

A two-day health training programme on health and nutrition evaluation for students successfully ended last week at the Visale community high school.

The programme was facilitated by doctors and nurses from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) in Taiwan with the Taiwanese Embassy, Taiwan Health Centre and the Visale High School.

Trainers demonstrated healthy eating plates, healthy diet concept and local kai-kai recipe to teachers and students with the aim of introducing practical dieting to the school and community level.

Additionally, trainers from KMUH also provided basic health checkups, training courses and medical services to the school and villagers around the Visale Community.

Students and community also underwent health statistics, measurements, urine and finger sugar health checkups including advocacy on nutrition life cycle awareness to the local teachers.

Dr Meng-Chuan Huang, KMUH nutrition professor said, “The nutrition provision with balanced and varieties of foods is critical to maintain optimal growth and development for school-age children in Solomon Islands.”

Ms Chin-Wei Tseng, KMUH nurse, also said, “Diet and nutrition begin to affect our health starting at the time of pregnancy and throughout the rest of our lives.”

Dr Yi-Wen Chiu, Dr Lo-Yen Lee, and Ms Pei-Ni Hsiao provided counseling to students with abnormal test results.

Inspector Rickson Saukoron expressed and extended his sincere appreciation to the Taiwan team.

KMUH experts & school teachers worked together to design and prepare Solomon healthy meals, all participants completed hand-on training to assemble “healthy lunch plate”.

With the help of nutrition professor Dr Meng-Chuan Huang, KMUH, school participants successfully completed and demonstrated a health promotion activity to build up a healthy eating environment for school.

The Visale Community High School Principle Emannel Sade and Inspector Rickson Saukoron assisted in coordinating cooperation between Taiwan experts and Visale School to complete such events.

Number of PNG companies increase significantly

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare delivering his speech during the PNG's 42th Anniversary

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE number of PNG companies operating in Solomon Islands has significantly increased over the years and there is more interest shown by others to invest in the country.

Both countries are encouraged to promote an investment environment that will enable business establishment and growth to boost each other’s economy and create employment opportunities.

PNG High Commissioner to Solomon Islands HE Mr Fred Yakasa said that Solomon Islands companies are encouraged as well to invest in PNG where there is a bigger market base and opportunities.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare when speaking during the 42nd Independence Celebration held at the PNG Chancery over the weekend said that there are now more than 50 investment companies in the country as there is need for more.

“’PNG has the Kina and we want it,” said the Prime Minister.

Milking the sick

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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A record of invoice and receipt for the Doctors fee at the National Referral Hospital

National referral hospital probes doctor, reports of malpractice rife in NRH surface

By Alfred Sasako

(in Hong Kong)

NOT so often that one hears about a hospital putting one of its top surgeons under the microscope.

That is what is happening at the National Referral Hospital, where its heavies are preparing to launch a formal investigation into a case involving top Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Patrick Houasia, for billing a seaman more than $9,000 for treatment he received at the NRH last month.

Island Sun was told the seaman almost lost a little toe on his foot in an accident, which occurred in a tug boat during a journey from Malaysia to Honiara in August this year.

On his arrival in Honiara, the seaman was sent to the National Referral Hospital where Dr Houasia and his team, amputated the finger.

Everything went according to what the doctor had ordered until the seaman’s employer, received a medical bill for the operation and the treatment. The hierarchy of the hospital and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services were shocked when the employer raised the payment “for clarification”.

“Should I be paying this? I have always thought the National Referral Hospital is a public hospital,” the employer queried.

“I don’t mind paying the bill if it was from the doctor’s private practice. But in this case it is not,” the employer said.

Island Sun has obtained a copy of the invoice for the bill dated August 25, 2017. It was for a hefty $9,150 (Nine thousand one hundred and fifty dollars), which the employer has paid.

The invoice itemised the charges as:

Consultation                                                   –                 750

Surgery Traumatic Amputation and         –                 4, 500

Surgery 2nd Wound closure                       –                 3, 400

Medical Reports                                            –                    500

TOTAL                                                                               $9,150

According to documents obtained by Island Sun, the full amount was paid on August 31, 2017 in a Pan Oceanic Bank (POB) cheque (Cheque No. 218960).

“This is just unacceptable,” NRH’s Dr Rooney Jagilly said at the weekend.

Dr Rooney said the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr Dalipada and the Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Steve Aumanu “are aware now (of the matter)and this just has to be formally investigated.”

The case involving Orthopaedic Surgeon Houasia billing the patient is not necessarily the first.

Doctors embalming bodies at the NRH Morgue for burial, for example are known to have billed relatives of the deceased.

Chemicals used in the preservation of the bodies are from the National Referral Hospital’s Pharmacy.

Island Sun was told that depending on the status of the deceased, bills can be as high as $25,000 per death.

Where the payment ends up is the question. At this point, it is anyone’s guess.

Queens Baton here in December

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BEN BILUA

NOCSI Vice-President Fiance and Marketing Nihal Seneviratne and NOCSI Vice-President Solomon Games Ishmael are part of the working taskforce established purposely to organise the planning of the Queen’s Baton visit here in December

NATIONAL Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands is mobilising programmes in preparation to welcome the Queens baton on December 5th ahead of 2018 Common Wealth Games to be held in Gold Coast Australia next year.

A working committee has been established to mobilise plans and programmes to host the Baton upon its arrival in the country.

Vice President of Solomon Games Mr Ishmael A. Nori has been appointed as the Liaison Officer for the Queens Baton visit.

Speaking to this paper yesterday Mr Nori said his committee has kicked started plans and programme to honour the Baton when it arrive in the country on 5th December.

He adds the his committee is proposing a float parade from King George School to White River with the Baton before heading to the Governor General’s Residence where the baton will spend a night.

Mr Nori said special programme is proposed to take place at the Common Wealth Street as part of welcoming the Queens Baton.

He continues to say that his committee is also looking for a better person fitting as a bearer of the Baton.

“We are calling on the public to nominate men or women with integrity or interesting history to hold/run the Baton upon its arrival here,” Mr Nori said.

He said the event will presents a huge promotional opportunity for the country’s tourism industry as international and regional media will accompany the baton.

Mr Nori also said that his committee is also working opportunity for business houses and other private sectors who want to be part of the promotion list.

“The significant of this torch relay is that Solomon Islands is a Common Wealth Country and also will be participating in the upcoming Common Wealth Games.

“More importantly international and regional media are following the Baton and this requires the host country to design brilliant parade to welcome the baton.

“This event will be part of the promoting the country tourism and for business houses, we offer limited spaces for the Torch to promote their business,” he said.

Mr Nori said business houses and other organisation interested to be part of the promotion can call NOCSI and his committee for arrangements.

The Queen Baton will visit Papua New Guinea before Solomon Islands and then to Vanuatu as it heads toward Australia.

On Commonwealth Day, 13 March 2017, the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay was launched on the historic forecourt at Buckingham Palace, signalling the official countdown to the start of the Games. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II heralded the start of the relay by placing her ‘message to the Commonwealth and its athletes’ into the distinctive loop-design Queen’s Baton which then set off on its journey around the globe.

The Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Barton Relay is set to be the longest in Commonwealth Games history. Covering 230,000km over 388 days, the Baton will make its way through the six Commonwealth regions of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The Baton will finally land on Australian soil in December 2017 and will then spend 100 days travelling through Australia, finishing its journey at the Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018, where the message will be removed from the Baton and read aloud by Her Majesty or a representative.

Designed for each Games by the host nation, the 2018 Queen’s Baton has been made using macadamia wood and reclaimed plastic, sourced from Gold Coast waterways, and inspired by the region’s vibrant spirit and indigenous heritage.

Milestone for SIFF

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Federation to host OFC B-Licence for coaches

By Taromane Martin

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) is set to reach another milestone next month when they host the first ever OFC B-Licence course for coaches.

SIFF Technical Director Felipe Vega Arongo said it is important the country has good and qualified coaches because it will also improve the level of soccer here.

“On October 6, SIFF will be hosting an OFC senior B-licence for coaches in the country. This will be the first time to host the course here which is wonderful for the development of the game,” Mr Arongo said.

“Currently only Patrick Miniti and Moses Toata has obtained their coaching B-licence while Eddie Marahare and Marlon Houkarawa are still in process of getting theirs.

“We have 20 local coaches with the C-Licence at the moment but if we could have all or 19 coaches obtaining B-Licence by next year it will be fantastic for the development of the game here.

“Having qualified coaches will mean the improvement to the standard and level of the game here because at the moment the level of football here is very poor,” he stressed.

The Technical Director adds that with FIFA allocating OFC 1.5 slot for the World Cup as of the 2026 edition, the goal now is to start working and preparing for it.

SIFF’s plan is to have more coaches, instructors, referees with licence. The programme deadline is 2026 because OFC will get one and a half slot for the World Cup and like other regional football bodies will be aiming for it.

“By 2018 all the high schools coaches, Solomon Cup coaches, futsal coaches including the S-league club coaches must all have the B-Licence because this is the only way to develop and improve the game,” Arongo said.

“All the football clubs will also need to register their licence with OFC like in other parts of the world so they can know how many players, how many officials they have and so on,” he said.

The senior OFC B-Licence coach will start on October 6 with the second part of the course set for January 2018.

Young team for Pacific Mini Games

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso

National soccer team to resume training for Pacific Mini Games next month

BY ROMULUS HUTA

Felipe Vega-Arango Alonso

THE National soccer men’s team will resume training next month for the Pacific Mini Games in December.

Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Technical Director Felipe Vega Arango Alonso, who had been re-assigned for the head-coaching role for the Pacific Mini Games, said according to his time frame, training will resume during the second week of October.

During a press conference held at the SIFF Academy yesterday, Alonso said he is looking at naming all young players for the Games.

“The team will consist of only a few old players but the rest will be young players.

“Among the few other old players is captain Henry Fa’arodo, who had already indicated that this year will be his final playing year for the national team.

“Apart from that, I will only take in players who are 26 years old and less,” the Spaniard said.

The Pacific Mini Games will be held in Port Vila, Vanuatu and will run from December 4 to 15.

Soccer is one of the 14 codes named to represent the country at the regional sporting event.

According to the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands’ (NOCSI) National Justification and Selection Committee (NJSC), our national soccer team is among the top medal prospects in the Games.

This follows their recent impressive run in the Oceania World Cup Qualifying campaign for Russia 2018 where they reached the final and only to be stopped by New Zealand over a two-legged fixture.

National soccer captain, Henry Fa’arodo will be using the Pacific Mini Games as his last time to represent the country in international matches, though he is still keen on playing at the club level.

Fa’arodo’s retirement from international matches will put end to a career that stretches 15 years back since making his debut in the 2002 Oceania Nations Cup in New Zealand.

During an interview with SunSPORTS after the Oceania World Cup Qualifying Stage 3 final against New Zealand earlier this month, Fa’arodo said while he is still keen on playing club football, he’d love to make the Mini Games as his final outing donning the green, yellow and blue jersey.

“Yes, that’s right. I have other options to take into account. For International, I would love to make the Mini Games as my last international. But again, I have to weigh up my options with the people close to me.

“But for club level, I’m still keen on playing.

“I’m still thinking about it. I have to sit down and speak to my wife, my dad and the people that matters in my life right now,” he said.

Women basketball squad training on track

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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National basketball player Rose Gwali tries to control the ball from her opponent during their friendly match at the Multipurpose Hall yesterday…Photo Taromane Martin

By Taromane Martin

National basketball player Rose Gwali tries to control the ball from her opponent during their friendly match at the Multipurpose Hall yesterday…Photo Taromane Martin

THE Solomon Islands women’s national basketball team preparations for the FIBA Melanesia Cup in Papua New Guinea this month is in full swing.

The women’s basketball team yesterday played a friendly match with a select team, consisting of players from the Honiara High school’s basketball league.

Despite trailing in the first, second and third quarters yesterday, the women’s national team manage to fight back in the fourth quarter to secure a one point victory over the Honiara select side.

The Honiara school select side led 14-5 in the first quarter but fought their way back in the second quarter to trail by seven points, Honiara school select side leading 30-23.

The national side seemed lost in the third quarter as they struggled to collect points from their much younger and energetic opponents.

Honiara select side maintained their lead at the end of the third quarter leading 44-40 at the break.

Communication and fitness was a constant problem for the national side, which saw them giving away possession cheaply in the final quarter.

The Honiara Select side was leading 53- 52, with 29 seconds left on the clock forcing

Jocelyn Basia was able to convert two points for the national team on the free throw line to see them secure a narrow 54-53 win over the Honiara School select side.

Meanwhile, the 2017 FIBA Melanesia Cup is set to kick off on September 26 at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor center.

Solomon Islands will join Fiji, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea for the competition. The top three teams from this competition will get automatic qualification for the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.

Solomon Islands will be sending both their men and women national basketball teams to take part in the FIBA Melanesia Cup.

Gov’t launches 2nd course to build capacity to implement NDS

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Gov’t launches 2nd course to build capacity to implement NDS

GOVERNMENT Officers responsible for implementing the annual Development Budget programmes and projects and achieving the vision of the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2016-35 began their Certificate IV in Project Management Practice this week.

The course was officially launched in Honiara by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Co-ordination (MDPAC) Mr Shadrach Fanega.

PS Fanega warmly welcomed course tutor Mr Neil Sharma from USP Pacific TAFE and assistant from IPAM, Mr Steven Amasia along with students enrolled in the Project Management in Practice Certificate IV course.

PS Fanega reminded officers of the launch of the 20 year National Development Strategy (NDS) (2016-35) in April last year and the importance of the project management training as providing a step closer to achieving the vision of the NDS and implementation of its strategies.

“The NDS includes 15 medium term strategies, to achieve five long term objectives and these in turn are translated into a rolling five year Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) comprising development programmes and projects, the first year of which forms the Annual Development Budget.

“The Government recognises that the implementation of the National Development Strategy, the Medium Term Development Plan and the Annual Development Budget is very challenging and that one of the attributing factors is the limited capacity of government ministries in terms of capital and human resources.”

PS Fanega said that providing comprehensive project management training shows the Government’s strong commitment to the capacity development needs of Solomon Island public sector officers to help them improve the implementation of development programmes and projects, that in turn, will grow the economy and benefit the nation.

“It is no co-incidence that you were selected to attend this course. You were selected because of the role you play and the responsibility you have, to ensure the successful implementation of development budget programmes and projects. Make the best of this opportunity and take full advantage of the course and apply it when you return to your posts,” he said.

Mr Fanega said that following the success of the training programme run last year, the Certificate Four in Project Management Practice was again being delivered, co-funded by SIG with funding support from the European Union.

–OPMC PRESS

Rhinoceros Beetle confirmed at Ngella

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

THE national campaign against the invasive pest, the Rhinoceros Beetle, has received a major blow with the insect confirmed in Ngella.

Ngella is one of the copra hubs of the country, and the pest’s presence is a red light for the industry and the country’s economy.

Confirming this is the Agriculture Division at Tulaghi Central Islands Province (CIP) after visiting the reported spot sight this week at Central Big Ngella, Haleta Village.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, the agriculture division said they are now trying every way possible to stop the beetles from spreading.

“Quarantine in Honiara is waiting for a sample report to reach them so that they will travel across next week to address the issue,” said the Agriculture officers.

Rhinoceros Beetles were initially spotted at Haleta early this year but villagers only recently reported the matter after seeing the damage caused to their coconut plantations.

The Agriculture officers said that the damage done to the coconut plantations is similar to the damages at Lungga on which villagers are starting to cut down the leave branches of their coconut trees.

The beetle’s arrival at Haleta is suspected to may have been through Outboard Motors (OBM’s).

Miss South Pacific to visit Honiara

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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2016 Miss South Pacific Islands Miss Anne Christine Dunn.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

2016 Miss South Pacific Islands Miss Anne Christine Dunn.

MISS South Pacific will visit the country at the end of this month.

Solomon Island Pageant Director, Ms Joyce Konofilia told local media during a press conference yesterday that Miss South Pacific, who also Miss Fiji, will be in Honiara for three days.

It is understood the Miss South Pacific Islands Board have approved a request by the Solomon Islands Pageant organiser for the region’s queen to visit Solomon Islands.

Ms Konofilia said during Miss Anne Christine Dunn’s stay in Honiara she will give awareness on the roles of Miss South Pacific Islands especially to the local pageants.

“The awareness is very important especially to our local pageants in case we win South Pacific Pageant Show we know the role of Miss South Pacific Islands.”

She said the focus of her awareness will be on women issues as she will have the opportunity to talk with certain organisations.

She is also likely to visit government ministries, women organisations, charitable organisations, tourism sectors and other organisations.

She said currently they are preparing for her arrival especially on the logistics for her visit.

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