BY CHRIS ALEX

Lunga community in Central Guadalcanal Constituency’s Belaha ward gathered yesterday to clean and maintain their local clinic.

Armed with brushes, scrubbing tools, and determination, community members dedicated their day to ensuring the health facility remains a safe and welcoming space for all.

Ray Seleso, the Health Director for Guadalcanal province commended the community for their efforts, emphasizing the importance of regular clean-ups.

“This community clean-up happens every Wednesday, and it’s heartening to see so many people come together for the sake of their health services,” Seleso stated.

The Health Director expressed gratitude to the Lunga community for their commitment to maintaining health facilities throughout Guadalcanal Province.

He also acknowledges the ongoing support from communities surrounding the Balolava clinic in East Guadalcanal, praising their consistent dedication to similar initiatives.

Seleso passionately advocates for community participation in health services, underlining its critical role in fostering resilience within the healthcare system.

“Communities are the backbone of strong, resilient health services. That’s why I embedded them at the heart of the Corporate Plan for Guadalcanal,” he explained.

He believes that when communities take ownership of their health facilities, the benefits extend far beyond what individual efforts can achieve.

“If there’s one legacy I hope to leave in Guadalcanal Province, it is a culture of genuine partnership with communities, where together, we nurture and sustain the very facilities that sustain us,” Seleso added.

The successful clean-up not only promotes a healthier environment but also strengthens the bond between community members and their local healthcare providers, showcasing the power of collective action in safeguarding public health.

Photo: Ray Seleso

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Two local facilitators of the Just Play Programme have commended the importance of the ‘Good Touch & Bad Touch’ awareness activity.

UNICEF Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Consultant and Child Psychologist, Dr Koen Sevenants, conducted the ‘Good Touch & Bad Touch’ concept yesterday at the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Academy in East Honiara.

Just Play Programme Instructor, Vanessa Kausimae, said the session was vital in promoting child protection and safeguarding.

She explained that the Just Play Programme, which targets children aged 6 to 18, works closely with in-country partners, including UNICEF.

“This strong partnership helps us protect children and uphold their rights. The activity demonstrates to children the difference between good touch and bad touch, which is a critical step in preventing abuse,” she said.

Sexual abuse is when a person uses their authority or power over a child to engage in sexual activities and it often goes unnoticed, especially among younger children. Many children between the ages of 4 and 12 may not even realise they are being abused. This makes simple, child-friendly awareness activities like ‘Good Touch & Bad Touch’ all the more important.

Ms Kausimae stressed that awareness of the issue is still lacking in the country, and many harmful behaviours have become normalised.

“Breaking it down to the basics, like teaching children what is a good touch and what is a bad touch, helps them understand the impact and empowers them to report or say no,” she said.

Just Play Programme Facilitator, Claudia Votu, also highlighted that the exercise aligns well with the programme’s work in both rural communities and Honiara.

She said the small but powerful demonstration will not only benefit children, but also parents and caregivers.

“This activity allows parents to guide children when situations arise, enabling them to recognise what is right and wrong. If such programmes continue, they will be successful in building children’s confidence to stand up for themselves,” she said.

Miss Votu added that integrating the awareness into schools and communities will help reduce abuse and violence.

“When children learn about good and bad touch at a young age, they grow up strong in their choices,” she said.

The facilitators encourages every parent, teacher, caregiver, and community leader to do this exercise with their children and students.

“For children, it is important to know they can report to a trusted person when they feel unsafe. For adults, if you come across a case of abuse, you must report it immediately to the police, the Social Welfare Division (20569), or by calling the toll-free hotline 132,” said Dr Sevenants.

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Special awareness exercise aims to empower children to recognise inappropriate physical contact

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

UNICEF has introduced a tool to help children differentiate between safe, affectionate contact and harmful or exploitative touching.

UNICEF Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Consultant and Child Psychologist Dr Koen Sevenants conducted a special awareness exercise on child protection, focusing on the concept of ‘Good and Bad Touch’ at the Solomon Islands Football Federation (SIFF) Academy in East Honiara.

The exercise, facilitated yesterday, aims to empower children to recognise inappropriate physical contact, to respond effectively, and to seek help.

Sevenants stressed that child sexual abuse remains a widespread and alarming issue across the world, including Solomon Islands, and often goes unnoticed at early stages.

“Everywhere in the world, we face the problem of children being sexually abused. What is most disturbing is that in many cases, the perpetrators are not strangers, but individuals known to the child and family,” he said.

He explained that children between ages 4 and 12 years often do not realise when they are being abused because the abuser manipulates them by offering gifts, compliments, and encouraging secrecy.

Many victims, he added, only come to terms with the abuse years later, which makes legal intervention difficult and leaves long-lasting emotional scars.

“As they grow older, many of these children develop depression, anxiety, and emotional difficulties. This often results in behavioural challenges in school, dropping out, or turning to harmful coping mechanisms such as smoking or drinking,” Dr Sevenants said.

The UNICEF consultant emphasised that while Solomon Islands has laws in place to protect children, prevention must begin with education at the earliest stages of childhood.

The “Good and Bad Touch” exercise, he said, is a critical tool to help children differentiate between safe, affectionate contact and harmful or exploitative touching.

“Children must learn to recognise when a touch is not right. They need to understand that they can say ‘stop,’ run away, and report the incident to a trusted person. Suppose this knowledge can reach children across the Solomon Islands. In that case, we will not only reduce cases of sexual abuse but also decrease depression, anxiety, and behavioural problems among adolescents,” he said.

Dr Sevenants concluded that raising awareness and strengthening protective measures at the community and family levels is vital to safeguard children and build a safer future for young people in the Solomon Islands.

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BY CHRIS ALEX

Pinalita Kabokera, a dedicated trainee at the Bethesda Disability Training and Support Centre (DTSC) from Western Province, has issued a heartfelt call for authorities to recognize and address the pressing needs of special schools.

Kabokera, who began her training at the DTSC this year, has faced numerous challenges that have raised critical questions about the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in society.

During her time at the DTSC, Kabokera experienced firsthand the difficulties that students with disabilities encounter.

“Why are people with disabilities always left out in our societies?” she asked, emphasizing the urgent need for greater support and recognition from community leaders and responsible authorities.

 “We are part of the communities, and we really need support from everyone to push us forward to achieve our goals,” she stressed.

One of the most pressing issues Kabokera highlighted is the inadequate physical environment of special schools.

At Bethesda DTSC, dormitories are frequently threatened by flooding during the rainy season due to poor location and infrastructure.

Emergency evacuations to school halls have become a distressing norm, highlighting the urgent need for safer, more accessible facilities.

“In rainy seasons, our dormitories are overrun with floodwaters, forcing students to flee to higher grounds,”

“It’s the saddest thing; sometimes, not all of us can make it quickly enough, which puts us at greater risk and burdens our staff with the responsibility of managing such crises,” Kabokera said.

Her remarks call for immediate attention to the poor infrastructure and health conditions at the Bethesda Disability Training and Support Centre.

Her experiences shed light on the broader issues faced by individuals with disabilities in the Solomon Islands, where systemic barriers often hinder access to education and support.

As Kabokera continues her training, her advocacy serves as a reminder of the critical need for investment in special education facilities.

Photo: Supplied

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BY CHRIS ALEX

School Principal of Toroiwango, Karl Manira is pleased to share several exciting updates on infrastructure developments and future plans that aim to enhance student welfare and educational quality.

“We are happy to report that the new Girls’ Toilet Block, funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is nearing completion.

“Once finalized, this essential facility will significantly improve hygiene and sanitation for our female students. A formal handover ceremony is expected to be held in the coming months,” he said.

In a major co-funded initiative, construction has begun on two new three-bedroom staff houses. This project is a partnership between the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership, WMC, and the school.

Building materials have already arrived on-site, and initial work is well underway. The project is targeting a completion date of March 2026, with an official handover planned for June 2026. This effort aims to improve staff accommodation and support long-term teacher retention.

The school is also making significant strides in finalizing its Whole School Development Plan (WSDP) for the years 2026 to 2034.

Scheduled for submission in November 2025, the WSDP sets a bold vision to transform Toroiwango into a leading junior secondary institution in the East Arosi Region West Makira Constituency.

Based on a recent school census, the plan outlines strategic priorities in three critical areas.

-Infrastructure: Expansion of classrooms and development of specialized facilities such as a science laboratory and technical workshops.

-Technology: Introduction of a reliable solar power system and the creation of a fully equipped computer lab.

-Welfare: Upgrading staff housing and launching a boarding program to support students from remote communities and ensure equitable access to education.

Photo: IslandTech Solomons

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Director General of the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP), Noan Pakop, has called on Pacific nations for collective action to protect the region’s ocean, describing it as both “our identity and our lifeline”.

Speaking at the Second Pacific Islands Oceans Conference in Honiara, Pakop said the meeting came at a defining moment, as the world reaches the halfway point of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

“If we are to achieve the ocean we want, one that is healthy, resilient and productive, we must accelerate our actions, deepen our partnerships and strengthen our collective resolve,” he told delegates.

He cautioned that converging threats such as climate change, overfishing, marine pollution and biodiversity loss are jeopardising food security, livelihoods and ecosystems.

“Unity and coordinated regional action remain the Pacific’s greatest strength,” he said.

Highlighting regional achievements, Pakop pointed to French Polynesia’s creation of the world’s largest marine protected area and Vanuatu’s bold push to extend bans on bottom trawling as examples of Pacific leadership on the global stage.

 “The small island developing states can lead with influence and impact, when united, resourceful and resilient,” he said.

The Director General also emphasised the collaborative role of CROP agencies, including SPC, FFA, SPREP, USP and OPOC, in combining science, policy and traditional knowledge to sustain Pacific fisheries, protect biodiversity and advance ocean governance.

He urges governments, civil society, the private sector, women and youth to work hand in hand.

“The ocean is everyone’s business. Our greatest legacy must be twofold; a thriving ocean and a generation of Pacific Islanders equipped with knowledge, skill and cultural wisdom to sustain it,” he said.

The conference, hosted by Solomon Islands, continues discussions on strengthening ocean science, governance and partnerships across the Pacific region.

Photo: Supplied

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By JOHN HOUANIHAU

Pacific Ocean Commissioner, Dr Filimon Manoni, urges Pacific leaders, scientists, policymakers, and communities to work collectively to safeguard the region’s ocean.

Delivering his keynote address in this week’s Pacific Islands Ocean Conference in Honiara, Manoni described collaboration as “not just important, but essential”.

Reflecting on what he described as a good year for the ocean, he highlighted Pacific leadership at global forums such as the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France and strong regional advocacy at the UN General Assembly in New York.

“Pacific leaders understand the burden they carry today in preparing future generations for the stewardship of the ocean.

“The Pacific has not been sitting idle. We have taken steps at the regional and national levels through conventions, treaties, and marine policies to sustainably manage our ocean,” Manoni said.

He acknowledges that global progress has been uneven, pointing to the stalled negotiations for a plastics treaty.

Manoni calls for renewed momentum at the upcoming UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in December, pressing for an agreement robust enough to address the full cycle of plastics and provide meaningful support for small island developing states.

He also highlighted the need to balance science, technology, and policy with traditional Pacific knowledge and values.

“Our traditions of celestial navigation, sacred marine spaces, and seasonal fishing calendars reflect our deep ecological intelligence. These must remain at the centre of ocean governance,” he said.

He said that the Pacific voice must remain united on the global stage.

“We are not islands in a far sea, but a sea of islands,” he said, invoking the late Pacific scholar Epeli Hau‘ofa’s famous words.

Addressing young people, he reminded them of their role as future custodians of the ocean.

“Do not let the size of the ocean intimidate you. It is your home, your heritage, and your identity. Your responsibility is to ensure it maintains its bountifulness into the future.

“Pacific solutions are global solutions. Only through collaboration, science, traditional knowledge, and shared responsibility can we secure the ocean for generations to come,” he concluded.

Photo: Supplied

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