BY CHARLES STENNETT
Clinical and public health workers in Makira-Ulawa province are now equipped with knowledge, practical tools and hands-on exercises to develop local action plans and standard operating procedures for disaster preparedness and response following a Climate Change and Health Disaster Management training held in the provincial capital Kirakira.
A statement from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS said 36 clinical and public health workers participated in the Pilot Training on Climate Change and Health and Disaster Risk Management to strengthen their capacity to protect communities from the increasing health challenges posed by extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and disease outbreaks.
Through the training, health workers learned essential knowledge, practical tools, and hands-on exercises to develop local action plans and standard operating procedures for disaster preparedness and response.
A baseline knowledge assessment was also conducted across seven health facilities, including Kirakira Hospital, identifying key gaps in workforce knowledge and practice related to climate change and health and disaster risk management.
The training was the first of its kind for health workers in the Makira-Ulawa province to attend with support from various organizations including MHMS, World Health Organization (WHO), Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Supervising Director for Makira-Ulawa Provincial Health, Dr. Aloysius Samo, Jr. said since more than 5 years serving the province, this is the first time he has witnessed and been part of an integrated training.
“I want to thank WHO for the technical support provided, and all the facilitators for their expertise shared during the training,” he said.
Dr. Samo Jr encourages participants to make good use of the knowledge and skills gained during the training.
Director of the Environmental Health Division, Ethel Mapolu, speaking on behalf of the Acting Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services, thanked the participants for attending the training.
“Makira-Ulawa Province is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and disasters, with communities often experiencing the frontline impacts of cyclones, sea level rise, earthquakes, water insecurity, and disease outbreaks, among other climate-related challenges that often disrupt essential health services.
“We cannot ignore the risks posed by climate change and its impacts on health. Therefore, we must put measures in place to ensure that communities are adequately prepared and their well-being protected against the impact of a rapidly changing climate,” she said.
World Health Organization Technical Officer for Health Emergencies, Georgios Theocharopoulos emphasized that the health impacts of the climate crisis are already being felt across Solomon Islands, with drought recently reported by some communities.
“Building resilient health systems that can withstand and respond to these events require sustained and robust investment in our frontline workforce. By working together, Government, communities and partners, our ability to protect the most vulnerable becomes stronger and more effective”. Theocharopoulos said.
Organized by the MHMS – Environmental Health Division, in collaboration with WHO, the training was made possible by GEF through UNDP.
This is the second pilot training conducted in the provinces, the first being in Temotu Province last year.
Photo credit: MHMS
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