By Loretta B Manele

Who said dealing with food is an easy job?

For Charmaine Rose Kuku, National Referral Hospital’s (NRH) Kitchen Manageress, this is not an easy task nonetheless she works hard and loves her job.

Apart from making sure patients at the hospital are well fed three times a day, 36-year-old Kuku is also a wife and a mother of one.

She is a pure Western province islander whose mom is from Vella La Vella and North New Georgia and whose dad comes from the lovely Marovo islands and Roviana.

Kuku studied in Fiji National University, College of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health majoring in Nutrition and Dietetics and completed her studies in 2014.

After completing her studies, she did her attachment at a hospital there which compared to the Solomon Islands was way ahead in terms of a lot of things and resources.

Whilst working it was from this experience that she saw areas where the country or the hospital in particular could improve in especially in the services provided to the public.

She saw a lot of opportunities for improvement and if we could only tap into these opportunities, it would bring us to another level in regards to our health services.

Anyways, let’s dive into what’s it like managing a kitchen that serves a lot of patients on a daily basis.

Her job is to mainly look after food services, preparation of meals, everything for patients as well as to feed the guardians or family members that accompany the sick patients.

For the clinical side of the hospital, in any case where the doctors see fit for her, she also steps in to help out with food services and clinical services.

This is everything to do with food, for healing purposes for the patients and in ensuring that patients don’t go hungry.

Alongside Kuku, she has two colleagues who work with her, one is a dietician and the other is the kitchen supply officer.

Their job is to provide food three times a day. While this sounds simple the actual job especially when it’s at a hospital is much challenging than words can express.

At the hospital, Kuku and her team cater to around more than 300 beds of which are not fully occupied because they usually cater to between 250 to 300 occupancies.

Meanwhile this is not the normal number of patients they deal with because patients can be discharged at any time when the doctors see it fit and there are also outpatients who are waiting to come in and fill in those unoccupied beds.

One challenge for Kuku as the kitchen manageress is ensuring that patients are fed.

For her this is quite hectic and very challenging because the number of patients is not the same every day.

On top of that they don’t only feed the patients, but also the guardians who come to look after the patients.

“So sometimes you are looking at one to two guardians and the patient. So, you are looking at about 600 plus people who we feed per meal and we serve three meals per day”

While this is quite expensive looking at the cost of food at the moment, Kuku says everyone has to eat.

They also have a food ration contract where they have suppliers who deliver them food for the whole year.

The delivery is done three times a week; on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to ensure the hospital doesn’t run out of food.

While they have their own challenges in the kitchen the food suppliers are also facing challenges of their own.

There are only two challenges that suppliers are facing. One is if there is a case of any natural disaster, it can cause them to slow down in their services and that’s regarding the quantity of supplies they deliver while the other challenge is they may hold back their supplies if there is a delay in payment.

On the other hand, while local farmers face these same challenges on the bright side, they can still sell their produce elsewhere.

Interestingly, rice is not on the menu so they have increased their order of root crops aside from the normal order of 300kg of kumara and 300kg of cassava.

Pana, yam and taro are also included but bought at prices per kilo.

Kuku thinks healthy eating is the only way forward for the country in the sense of looking at how we struggle for medications to arrive or how we anticipate for their release from where they are stored.

She sees that apart from depending on medication, the country has natural remedies in our local foods which we can consume so as to avoid getting sick.

Kuku’s overall message to the public is if we can have this mindset and shift from our current eating practices.

While it won’t happen overnight, she says we should take one step at a time.

Kuku said there are people out there that can offer help.

“For example, if you want to make a change in the way you eat there is a nutritionist that can help you with that”

Kuku is positive that choosing healthier food or healthier eating practices and methods is one way forward to lessen the burden of the country we are currently facing.

During the Covid 19 period Kuku was already working at the hospital.

At the beginning it was just her, their dietician officer was a nutrition officer for Buala. So, when everyone left, Kuku took up her current role which left her former position vacant. The dietician then applied for her former post and it was just the two of them working at the time.

It was very challenging experience for the both of them especially working during the Covid 19 period but a nice learning experience where they had to look after patients and feed the working officers because they were isolated.

This year, those who are working as nutritionists at the hospital like Kuku are still in their good years while the senior ones have gone out to work for NGOs.

Kuku has learned a lot from the challenges and struggles faced along the way but is determined that we are getting there in improving health services in the country.

Although they are a very small department at the end of the day food is very important to them.

Kuku really enjoys her work and loves her job.

“We’re talking about what we eat on a daily basis so when we talk with patients we get to understand their background.

We get to understand whether or not they can afford food and at the same time we can share ideas and give suggestions on how they can improve the way they eat just by giving an idea on how to make simple meal plans from simple food”

At the end of the day, if they’re happy Kuku and her team are happy.

They love working with anything that has to do with food.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Sharon Para, chairwoman of the Mbahomea Zone Three Women’s Association, is passionate about and grateful for participating in this year’s World Food Day (WFD) 2024.

Located in the Malango ward of the Central Guadalcanal Constituency the Mbahomea Zone Three Women’s Association, along with the Malatoha and Belaha Women’s Associations, made their first appearance at the WFD event.

The 2024 World Food Day was held from Wednesday 30^th to 1^st Friday of this month at the FOPA Panatina SINU campus in East Honiara.

“We operate within the catchment area of Tina Hydro and engage under the Gender Action Plan (GAP),” stated Mrs Para.

Their participation in the WFD is a direct result of their contributions during the International Day of Women on October 15, which goes before World Food Day on October 16.

“We officially commemorate the International Day of Rural Women and World Food Day at the Garivera Mini-park. We extended invitations to various ministries to join us there,” she added.

The event saw the participation of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture (MAL).

A key feature of the event was the emphasis on the empowerment of women and girls through the recognition of the vital role played by rural women.

“As we celebrate WFD at Garivera, we also highlight traditional food preparation and cooking from Guadalcanal. The outcome of this initiative has been a formal invitation from the MAL to join in this year’s WFD celebration,” Mrs Para noted.

“This marks our first participation in the World Food Day celebration, and as president, this aligns with our vision and aspirations. Our goal is to establish networks with NGOs, which is a significant part of my vision for the women in our community,” she remarked.

“As I sat at our stall, I was moved to tears reflecting on how far we have come. While some individuals typically engage in programs in urban areas, this is a milestone for us, the rural women. For us, this is indeed a first,” she continued.

“As president, I feel deeply honoured and joyful about our involvement in marking this WFD for the first time. It imparts in me the confidence that we can participate in future events,” she concluded.

This year’s theme, as expressed by Sharon, emphasizes the concept of improved nutrition leading to an enhanced quality of life.

The three women’s groups are demonstrating the preparation and cooking of traditional dishes, utilizing methods such as bamboo cooking and oven baking.

These women aim to highlight traditional cooking techniques and food preparation practices, which are increasingly at risk of being lost, particularly as some rural women face health challenges related to non-communicable diseases this year.

Mrs. Para expressed, “Our women found great enjoyment in the program, and we eagerly anticipate future events. We have gained significant knowledge, as rural women heavily rely on agriculture. Our involvement is intended to empower disadvantaged rural women, showcasing the potential achievements they can attain for their families, communities, and the nation.” She concludes.

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Cyril Kulisiua initiated conservation efforts in 2021 in response to a request from his tribe to conserve the land and forests to ensure benefits for future generations.  

In 2022, he applied for Protected Area (PA) status to the Ministry of Climate Change Conservation Division, on behalf of his tribe which provided them with a toolkit for the PA process.

Due to the ministry’s lack of resources for mapping, he partnered with the Ecological Solution Foundation Solomon Islands to facilitate this aspect of the PA process.

“Their assistance was instrumental in completing the mapping. Currently, we are awaiting a feasibility study that is being finalized by the Ecological Solution Foundation Solomon Islands,’’ Kulisiua told Island Sun.

Recently, he participated in a one-day awareness workshop alongside other conservation groups in Honiara, organized by the Ecological Solution Foundation.

As part of the PA process, Kulisiua and his tribal group association are now progressing to stage seven, which involves land use, budgeting, and planning. He is collaborating with various organizations, including the Environment Conservation Division, Ecological Solution Solomon Islands, and the Solomon Islands Rangers Association.

“The conserved land covers Bubutasi and Penguniu tribal lands,’’ said Kulisiua from Piapia village in Makina Marau within the Birao Ward of the East Guadalcanal constituency.

He also worked closely with the tribes and sub-tribes associated with these lands for the PA initiative.

“If all stages are completed by December 2024, we plan to implement the RED+ project in the following year, which aims to support communities through youth groups, women, and active farmers. This initiative also seeks to engage young people in positive activities,’’ he said.

One of the project’s goals is to enter the carbon trading market, with plans to commence carbon trading by 2026, depending upon the completion of all necessary stages.

“The area we seek to safeguard covers 1,700 hectares of forest land, not yet accounting for the reef because we also plan to conserve our marine resources,’’ said Kulisiua.

The chairman of the tribe’s committee Mr Kulisiua is responsible for organizing meetings among tribal groups to discuss their future conservation goals.  

“I anticipate that by February 2025, our land and forest will be designated as a Protected Area. The declaration will hinge on the environmental conservation division; if considered appropriate and qualifying, a recommendation for the declaration should be made.

“We have considered the view that logging should not compromise our pristine lands and forests. It is essential for future generations to witness the magnificence of our towering trees and to understand the richness of the ecosystems within these forests and lands. Our current efforts are focused on preservation to ensure that this opportunity remains available for those who come after us; otherwise, they will only be able to experience these wonders through photographs and second-hand accounts,’’ said the father of seven.

Mr Kulisiua stands firmly against logging and advocates for preservation and reforestation.

“I urge my community to engage in reforestation efforts. When trees are felled for gardening purposes, I encourage the practice of replanting them when relocating to different areas of the land for cultivation. The primary objective of this proposed Protected Area is to prohibit logging and mining activities. I am a parent to seven children, some of whom are already married. This reinforces my belief that my grandchildren should have access to resources that will benefit them in the future,’’ he said.

This endeavour is not without its challenges, for instance, financial support is often necessary, and although he lacks the funds, Kulisiua is determined to work diligently to turn the plans into reality for his tribe.

“We may discourage one another from engaging in conservation efforts. Some individuals may proclaim that we possess plenty of resources, suggesting that there is no need for concern. However, we may eventually realize that these resources could be exhausted or disappear entirely.

“This understanding has prompted us to unite to preserve and safeguard the resources. 82 tribal lands in Guadalcanal have already agreed to participate in conservation initiatives,’’ he said.

Mr Kulisiua urges the people of the Solomon Islands, particularly those from his island of Guadalcanal, to recognize that they have reached a limit regarding logging and mining activities and expresses his sympathy to those who permit such practices on their lands.

“We have become strangers in our land, yet we are not outsiders; we are the rightful owners. The core message I wish to convey to my community is the importance of conserving our forest areas, as they provide sustenance for our families. Failure to protect these lands may lead to a sense of alienation from our heritage. This is the message I aim to communicate to all of us,’’ said the concerned father.