BY NED GAGAHE

Ombudsman Fred Fakari’i calls on the government to include clear provisions in the Public Service Bill 2025 to allow citizens to submit complaints and feedback on public services.

Appearing before the Bills and Legislation Committee on Monday, Mr Fakari’i said the bill currently focuses on handling complaints from government employees but lacks any system for the public, the users of services—to raise concerns or give feedback.

“This bill, while it deals with complaints of people inside the system, does not create a mechanism to deal with or respond to users of our services,” he said.

Fakari’i said now is the right time to make that change.

“Many times we take complaints from the public as criticism. But these are actually feedbacks that can help us improve. We should take them positively,” he said.

The Ombudsman gave an example from rural areas, saying that if a villager reports a clinic is closed, it should not be ignored or taken as an attack on government, but seen as useful information that helps improve service delivery.

“It is important to go and find where that person lives, to prove what they are saying is true. But we don’t have that mechanism in our ministries,” he pointed out.

Mr Fakari’i stressed that dealing with public complaints is not only about fixing problems, but also has wider benefits for government such as the following factors;

• Improves service delivery
• Promotes transparency and accountability
• Boosts efficiency and consistency
• Empowers public servants to prevent corruption
• Helps officers learn and grow
• Rebuilds public trust in government

He said one of the government’s key policies is on how to rebuild the trust of people thus he believes having this mechanism in the bill is a big step in that direction.

“I strongly ask that this is included in the legislation.

“I do not see any provision that deals with feedback from our citizens on the services we provide,” Fakari’i said.

The Public Service Bill 2025 is currently under scrutiny by the committee and is expected to go before Parliament soon.

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BY BEN BILUA
GIZO

Australia has invested $150 million Solomon dollars into health improvement programs across Solomon Islands, reaffirming its role as the country’s leading health partner.

The funding forms part of the Solomon Islands–Australia Health Partnership, which aims to strengthen service delivery, improve health outcomes for all Solomon Islanders, and support the Ministry of Health to achieve the goals outlined in the National Health Strategic Plan.

Speaking at the opening of the National Healthy Setting Conference, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Health Senior Program Manager, Zina Fefera said Australia is proud to stand alongside Solomon Islands.

She said the Health Partnership leverages and harnesses the impact of many other significant investments that Australia provides in Solomon Islands at both the regional and global level.

This includes support through the Global Fund, Gavi, World Bank, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, volunteer programs, NGO grants, and more than 20 projects under Australia’s flagship Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative.

Fefera highlighted the Provincial Health Grant as a key pillar of the partnership, noting that it provides critical resources to provincial governments, enabling them to deliver essential health services and community-based initiatives such as healthy settings.

She commended the Solomon Islands Government for turning the aspirations of the 2018 Healthy Setting Conference into reality, describing the current event as “a clear example of a local idea and initiative that has grown to have significant impact.”

“This success is aligned with Australia’s localization strategy, supporting local-led development and ownership. The conference shows that home-grown solutions can deliver meaningful and sustainable results,” Fefera said.

She stressed the importance of adapting to persistent and emerging public health challenges, adding that the Healthy Settings model places people and communities at the centre of health delivery—in villages, schools, workplaces, markets, and churches.

On the conference theme, “Building Sustainable Healthy Settings,” Fefera said sustainability requires leadership, strong systems, and consistent financing.

“The slogan, ‘Investing in Healthy Settings, Shaping the Future,’ captures our shared vision—that the investments we make today in health promotion and prevention will reduce the burden of disease tomorrow and create healthier, stronger communities for future generations,” she said.

Fefera assures that Australia remains committed to supporting Solomon Islands through the Provincial Health Grant and broader partnership programs.

“Together, let us translate policy into action, and action into healthier, more resilient communities across Solomon Islands,” she said.

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BY BEN BILUA
GIZO

THERE is no magic bullet, you got to eat healthy, live healthy to be healthy and look healthy.

This was the powerful message from Premier of Western Province, Billy Veo during the opening of the National Healthy Setting Conference at Gizo yesterday.

Delivering the keynote address, Premier Veo said building a healthy society requires collective efforts, as health and well-being cuts across every aspect of human life.

He said the theme of the conference speaks volumes of the importance of partnership and collaboration in the development of the country’s health sector.

Veo said a healthy lifestyle depends on how individuals, communities, the Ministry of Health, government agencies, and donor partners work together to design effective strategies.

He expressed his appreciation for the participation of health professionals, policy advisors, health workers, and donor partners in the conference, saying their shared knowledge and experiences will help explore strategic directions to address pressing health issues in the Solomon Islands.

“It is encouraging to see health professionals, policy advisors, health workers and donor partners gather and discuss pertinent matters with regards to health sector in Solomon Islands,” Veo said.

He emphasised that a healthy population is key to driving national development and strengthening the workforce.

The Premier acknowledged the government, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and donor partners for their support in making the event possible.

“I am optimistic that this conference will come up with resolutions and directions to tackle prevailing health issues. I wish you all a very fruitful week of conference and consultation,” Veo said.

In his speech, Deputy Secretary for the Health Improvement Department from MHMS, Nemia Bainivalu acknowledged the Western Provincial Government and the premier for accepting the invitation to host the conference.

He also acknowledges all the officials who travelled far and near to be part of the conference.

Bainivalu reminded officials that the importance to health and well-being of people in the country depends on the effectiveness of health and services strategy.

He calls on participants to demonstrate the commitment and dedication on fostering health, environment and healthy behaviours.

Bainivalu said health professional play an important role in shaping the country’s healthy setting.

He said the target is to improve, protect, and align global, regional and national targets to deliver effective services for the people.

Bainivalu adds that the conference reflects the Alma-Ata Declaration, a 1978 public health document that defined health as a fundamental human right and a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.

“Health is not only a fundamental human right but one cornerstone of development in society,” he said.

With the theme “Building Sustainable Healthy System Setting in Solomon Islands” the conference kicked off yesterday with the official opening and formal introduction of participants and officials.

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BY NED GAGAHE

UNICEF has reaffirms its strong commitment to support climate-smart education in Solomon Islands, describing the launch of the School-Based Disaster and Climate Resilience (SBDCR) Planning initiative as a key milestone in building safer schools and stronger communities.

Speaking during the official launch event held yesterday at Mbalasuna Primary School, UNICEF Solomon Islands Climate and Environment Specialist, Daeun Han, applauded the partnership between UNICEF, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), Guadalcanal Provincial Government, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), for making the initiative possible.

“Thanks to our partnership with KOICA, UNICEF is proud to support the Solomon Islands Government in building climate resilience for children and their communities,” she said.

Han emphasized that the program is part of a broader push towards gender-responsive, inclusive, and low-carbon development pathways that reduce vulnerabilities and safeguard the future of children.

A central focus of this collaboration is advancing climate-smart education services, which includes integrating climate change into curriculum and teaching, and ensuring that education systems are prepared for and resilient to climate-related shocks.

“Children must not only learn about climate risks, but also gain the skills to act on them. Embedding resilience into education empowers both schools and students to respond confidently to the growing challenges of climate change,” Han stated.

She described the SBDCR Planning program as a “practical and impactful step” towards this goal, as it provides school leaders, teachers, and students with tools and systems to better respond to disasters and climate hazards.

The program aligns with national disaster and climate policies, reinforcing schools as both safe spaces and centres of community resilience.

Beyond the 13 schools selected for the pilot in Guadalcanal, UNICEF believes the initiative will spark transformational change, supporting stronger climate policies and more inclusive institutions across the education sector.

Han thanks MEHRD and Guadalcanal Province for their leadership in the rollout of the initiative and expressed optimism for the future.

“We are not just building safer schools—we are nurturing a generation that is more prepared, more resilient, and more hopeful in the face of climate change,” she said.

The launch marks the beginning of a four-day training for school leaders and community representatives, and is expected to serve as a model for other provinces as the program expands nationwide.

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BY BEN BILUA
GIZO

THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Solomon Islands has expressed its commitment to support the weeklong National Healthy Setting Conference currently underway in Gizo, Western Province.

Speaking at the official opening of the conference, UNICEF’s Representative, Ayaz Hussain, said the organization is ready to share its experiences, progress, and achievements in health promotion and healthy settings from its global and local work.

He said healthy settings are more than just physical spaces; they are ecosystems where people live, learn, work, and play.

Hussian adds that the settings influence human behaviours, opportunities, and ultimately contribute to human health outcomes.

He said the burden of disease in many places in the country remains high, often exacerbated by social determinants like poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to quality healthcare and services.

Hussain stated that the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical need for robust health systems and healthy environments.

He stressed that there is an ever-increasing need for investment in disease prevention and health promotion which is not just a public health imperative but an economic necessity.

Hussain said strengthening collaboration and coordination among various sectors of society is the need of the hour for to achieve health for all in Solomon Islands going forward.

“I am grateful to department of health promotion, Ministry of Health and Provincial Health departments to invite us to this important conference.

“Today, as we gather here, we are united by a shared vision to promote health and well-being for our population.

“It is within our power to transform these settings into engines of healthy and without disease communities,” he said.

Hussian said the conference serves as a platform to share knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions tailored to the realities of Solomon Islands.

“It encourages multisectoral collaboration involving various government departments, civil society, academia, and the private sector. Because true health equity cannot be achieved by the health sector alone; it requires the collective commitment of all stakeholders.

“I urge all participants to think beyond traditional health interventions. Let us focus on creating environments that empower individuals to make healthier choices easily, whether it’s access to safe water, nutritious food, physical activity opportunities, or mental health support. Let us harness technology, policy, and community engagement to build resilient and healthy societies.

“I commend the organizers for bringing together this diverse and dedicated group of professionals. Your work in driving forward healthy settings in Solomon Islands is vital for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Solomon Islands health Strategic plan and ensuring that no one is left behind.

“Let us leave this conference inspired, equipped, and committed to creating healthier, more equitable, and sustainable environments for all,” he said.

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