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Taiwan provides continuous support for National Referral Hospital

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Taiwan provides continuous support for National Referral Hospital

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE

Taiwan provides continuous support for National Referral Hospital

TAIWAN continues to support Solomon Islands National Referral Hospital’s (NRH) dengue laboratory.

According to the Taiwan Health Center (THC) in Honiara, through its partnership with Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) in Taiwan, Dr. Ruby Tsai, Jih-Jin, who is the Director of the Tropical Medicine Center (TMC) at KMUH, led a dengue expert team to Solomon Islands in early September.

She held a conference regarding innovative strategies for mosquito borne diseases.

The team also carried out inspection in the dengue laboratory and provided practical improvement guideline and suggestions.

On top of that, a donation of new diagnostic tools worth SBD 130,000 was also made by the team to the hospital for the purpose of more rapid accurate identification of mosquito borne diseases.

One of their members, Bo-Yi Huang, a medical technician at KMUH’s Tropical Medicine Center spent the month working with staff at the lab where he taught them how to use the new tools.

Travelling to Solomon Islands for the first time, his work at NRH’s dengue lab included examining the lab and making sure that the quality and exact standard of operation procedure for testing including PCR and ELISA was carried out.

Taiwan Health Centre expressed that through the practice of traditional and updated methods, local medical technicians will be well equipped with skills to prepare for the future challenges of any possible dengue outbreak.

“The precise diagnosis could offer the proper clinical management and thus, reduce the severity and mortality of dengue fever”, said THC.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have recently dispatched another scale-up support for maintenance and renovation of the dengue laboratory with a total value of SBD 450,000.

“Both Taiwan government and KMUH paid efforts for strengthening the function of this dengue laboratory to maximize the practical help for the patients in Solomon Islands”, said THC.

The NRH dengue laboratory was established after the country’s first big dengue outbreak in 2013.

It was designed by KMUH’s Tropical Medicine Center under Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) grant support.

The dengue laboratory was donated to NRH in 2014 and has been supported technically by KMUH.

Since then, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, located in Southern Taiwan has persisted in providing maintenance, quality assurance and updated diagnostic techniques to NRH’s dengue laboratory.

Students urged to utilise scholarship opportunity

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE AND JOHN HOUANIHAU

STUDENTS who have applied for the government 2019 MPs scholarship awards are encouraged to make the best of the opportunity if accepted.

The call was made by the wife of one member of parliament who stressed that students should be mindful and accomplish what they are sent abroad to achieve.

Mrs Matilda Maneniaru, who is the spouse of Member of Parliament for West Are ‘Are constituency, Hon John Maneniaru says students who are to be awarded the scholarships under MPs privileges should set their minds on achieving academic goals.

She said that while the government is playing its part in sending students abroad under these opportunities on one end, the national government also expects the students to be positive and mindful about their studies.

Maneniaru expressed that those lucky students who will get the opportunity to travel to study at various universities should be vigilant about their opportunity, country, government, people and the future development of Solomon Islands.

She voiced that we are still in need of more educated and qualified people to move this nation forward hence students must exemplify what they have learned during their studies for the betterment of the country.

On another note, Maneniaru said that students returning to the country from tertiary institutions in past years stems from students’ failure in courses due to social influences and negligence of their duties as scholars.

“Students must put their concentrate on their studies, spend more time on what they are sent for, and should spend less on social activities that might disturb their studies”, said Maneniaru.

She emphasized that the purpose of the government’s support in this initiative is to improve and educate our human resources to the fullest to achieve future social and economic development of Solomon Islands.

PM highlights new investment opportunities at Concordia Summit

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet speaking

PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela says Solomon Islands is opening its doors to increase investment opportunities.

Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela highlighted this during his discussions with other world leaders at the Concordia Annual Summit held in New York.

The 2018 Concordia Annual Summit is a high-level forum that attracts some of the most important world and business leaders, an event that runs alongside the United Nations General Assembly.

Prime Minister Houenipwela during the discussions has highlighted that more recently the Government is exploring innovative investment opportunities including the Citizenship Investment Programme (CIP) to increase foreign direct investment in Solomon Islands.

The leaders discussions were based on the theme “Transforming Vulnerable Small Islands toward greater economic Resilience through Innovative financing and strategic Partnership”.

St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet speaking

Amongst other investment opportunities, the Prime Minister said Solomon Islands had been introduced to the potential benefits for a well-organised and coordinated Citizenship Investment Programme recently.

“We believe that if such a programme meets our internal security requirements, it can result in attracting many high-net-worth and strategic investors to Solomon Islands,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged that the Summit has enabled him to gain a much better understanding and valuable insights from other leaders of what their respective Citizenship Investment Programmes has done for their countries.

“My government is committed to working with our strategic partners in the international community to ensure that should Solomon Islands introduce a CIP, that will utilise the most robust and thorough due diligence process to ensure that only genuine investors with clean records will be considered for the programme,” he said

“One of the advantages of being a small nation is that well planned and executed policy interventions can make dramatic impacts in a relatively short period of time. A CIP is an example of such a targeted policy that has the potential to fundamentally shift our economic and social trajectory upward if done correctly,” he said.

The Prime Minister said these innovative investment programs could help further enhance the country’s resilience by injecting new sources of financing into the economy and open new revenue streams that could be channeled towards economic growth and other activities.

Therefore, he said the Government stands ready to explore these opportunities further.

The Concordia Summit venue

Prime Minister Houenipwela shared with other leaders that the Government is also contemplating various initiatives including a major new initiative that will transform the skyline of the country’s capital central business district.

He said this initiative which will involve the development of blocks of government offices, offices for commercial renting, a modern conferencing centre, hotels development and associated infrastructure development projects will provide tremendous public private partnership opportunities.

“We are also aiming to allocate prime real estate for hotel developments. We anticipate this initiative getting off the ground in the next 18-24 months,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said despite the fact that Solomon Islands is regarded as vulnerable in terms of Climate Change; his government is also aware of the inherent value Solomon Islands as a nation possesses.

“From the tangible abundant cultural and natural riches that we posses, to the more intangible, but equally important, strategic position that is attributed to our geographic location, we are more than a small Island Developing state,” the Prime Minister stated.

–OPMC PRESS

Western province health services run down

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
Participants attending the hearing and open forum held at Gizo.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Participants attending the hearing and open forum held at Gizo.

WESTERN province health services is reportedly run down, which has brought about a more challenging task to bring medical activities to the people in the community level.

In a hearing and open forum held at Gizo recently, the Director for Provincial Health Services in Western province Mr Dickson Buara said Western province is running down.

He said now 14 health facilities are closed down as well as health activities are facing big challenges relating to health facilities, drug shortage and storage and service deliveries.

He shared the challenges with the Health and Medical Service Committee which Hon Charles Sigoto (Chairman), Hon Mathew Wale, Hon Alfred Ghiro, Hon Dickson Mua, Hon Lionel Alex and Hon Lanelle Tanangada.

He said out of 63 health facilities western province have, 14 have been closed down due to deterioration and land issues.

“Closure of health facilities is a huge problem. Currently we have 14 health services that are closed down with few are deteriorated very badly and some relate to land issue,” Mr Dickson said.

Beside that Mr Dickson said one main challenge they face is referral of patients to the National Referral Hospital for further management.

He said such has incurred health services huge money as in 2015 around 1.3 million, 2016 1.5 million and last year 1.1 million— despite it is going down there is no money, the need is still there.

With that he also adds water and sanitation is also one challenge for delivering health services at provincial level.

He said, “Common issue Gizo hospital facing is availability of clean water.”

“Gizo hospital and town don’t have reliable water supply—health services and people mostly catches or rely on rain water,” he said.

Meanwhile, the health services for Western province totalled with 63 health facilities with two hospitals, six area health centres, 22 rural area health centre and 33 posted nurses.

RCDF for Temotu Vatud questioned

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Minister for Women Youth Children and Family Affairs Freda Rotutafi Rangirei.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

Hon Freda Tuki

A concerned voter from Vanikoro in the Temotu Vatud constituency called on its Member of Parliament to explain the distribution of the Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF).

He said over the past four years, there was no tangible development for the people of Tikopia live at Utupua and Vanikoro—a statement which the MP for Temotu/Vatud, refutes.

On that matter, the concerned voter from Vanikoro who requested anonymity called on MP Freda Tuki to explain how the funds were distributed during her four years in parliament.

He also urged Minister Tuki to explain why Tikopians of Vanikoro and Utupua have been left out from getting any assistance from RCDF.

Since general election is coming up, the concerned voter is calling on people of Temotu Vatud to vote wisely in 2019.

He said since they separated 20 years ago from Pele constituency nothing has been happening in terms of tangible development, and it is best to vote wisely.

With the concerns raised by the voter, MP for Temotu Vatud and Minister for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs Freda Tuki said there has been distribution of RCDF funds to schools, churches and houses.

Minister Tuki said those who have grudges against her did not receive any project because of their petition claims against her.

She said instead they chose not to work with her and continued to be enemies with her.

“Despite that people still receive developments”, Tuki said.

In terms of RCDF Tuki said funds is well distributed to none supporters and supporters who came back and work together with them.

“My office focuses much on human resources by sending more students to go out further study during my four years,” she said.

She also adds many people have received housing projects and about 90 percent of all the people received 50 watt solar light.

Minister also explained that some schools in Vatud received full complete school building, and most churches in those island mentioned also received complete building.

On the other hand, Minister encourages voters saying if they have frustration or any misunderstanding to call in at their constituency office.

Meanwhile, she acknowledged the fact that people raise their concern but the constituency has an office to seek for information.

Temotu Vatud constituency is made up of 12 Islands situated in the easternmost part of the Solomon Islands, and was formerly known as Santa Cruz Islands Province.

It consists essentially of two chains of islands which run parallel to each other from the northwest to the southeast with its area of 895 square kilometres (346 square miles).

Thanks media, shed light on omission period

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, I am perturbed by the amount of news on cross borders.

Firstly, I must applaud the media of the country for a job well done in an excellent coverage of the registration period.

So far, views of grass roots and politicians have been aired, printed and posted in the media, and we readers and listeners are well informed of the status quo of the biometric registrations.

Having said this, may I ask that the objection and omission period be covered on a similar scale as well, please.

Would not be a good thing to make a lot of noise during registration and then leave us in the dark during the objection and omission period.

I am sure that a lot of interesting news will be taken then.

I read from someone’s post on social media that the electoral act may just be a fantasy.

Well, let us wait and see.

If truly during the objection and omission period nothing is done to the cross borders and current MPs who are behind the many cross borders then I will say that Facebook post is 100 percent accurate.

John Poro

West Honiara

Need proper assessment on importance of teachers

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, as a parent, I often claimed that teachers supposed to earn higher salary than other government workers should in the nation.

I assumed that teachers has superior role in the nation than other government workers.

They are the educator who often facilitated educational services to our nation, particular to up bringing the academic performances and behaviour of our young populaces.

Just imagine how tough teachers taught you and I to be become a significant person in this nation.

I tell you the truth; any government cannot go without teachers, since teachers are the only source of modelling human resources within any government ministries.

But yet, Solomon Islands government certainly not realised these facts about the significance of teachers in this nation because of their foolishness and stagnant meditations.

Therefore, I appeal to the national government leaders to take these realities of teachers on board more seriously and must progress their condition right now.

I believe that, quality teaching and learning is rest in the heart of teachers not by having conducive learning environment as sated in the national education goals.

Last week a group of teachers met me and I as them the following question; “why were you teachers not performed up to the standard?” well in turn, they simply answer me by asking these questions. Firstly “do we teachers treated equally compare to other government ministries?

Secondly “do SIG recognise our contribution to this nation?” thirdly “are we [teachers] not public servants?” fourthly “ do you think the current teachers scheme of services could be motivated teachers to perform to the best as nation expected?” when they finished asking me those questions, I was paused for a few moments thinking what would happen to this nation.

After all, I was realised that quality of teaching and learning in this nation will not touched the national standard expected until teachers scheme of services is totally improved and reconsidered right now.

Again could be better for you national leaders to change the way in which you think. Rather than enjoying yourself in all corruption deals on the floor of the parliament.

On the same note may I appeal to the dormant teachers union ‘SINTA’ to come out clear in the media for current updates regarding teachers’ scheme of services.

Well the main issues here is “Teacher need a very affordable salary to meet their needs and wants now a days”. Since they [teachers] are human being just like you and others.

They also need better homes and living just like you and others.

They even have a lot of family commitments just like any others.

As of these facts I personally want to ask you these following questions; Firstly “ is there any differences between teachers and other government workers?” secondly “ are teachers not government workers?” thirdly “ why not teachers’ pay under public service scheme?” lastly “ is the current teachers scheme of services is attractive and motivated?”

Well I do not think so. It was obvious that Solomon Islands government regarded teachers as slaves of this nation.

Alternatively, even they never reflect how they become somebody in this nation. That is their leadership challenges and lack that national leaders need to be improved it now.

In that sense may, I appeal to you all registered teachers of Solomon Islands whether you come from private, churches, provincial or national schools the time has come to prove this nation how important you are.

In this situation may I appeal to you all teachers of various schools in around Solomon Islands to boycott the upcoming exams.

It is time to prove the nation. I know that this is the only approach that Solomon Islands government could reserve for you teachers

Most welcome to be part of this discussion

Fokiss Ramaramas

HONIARA

Rubbish collection at White River Market

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

DEAR EDITOR, I write with regards to the abovementioned issue.

The White River Market has been in operation for the past 5 odd years and during those years it has grown significantly.

With its growth came the accumulation of rubbish.

In those years, I can count with my hands the number of times the Honiara Town Council came to remove the rubbish.

In those years as well, the market was shut down only to reopen in a short number of days.

Why it was shut down and reopened is unknown.

I would like to know who is responsible for rubbish collection.

I understand people who live along the side of the roads are collecting money from market vendors to use the space in front of their house to sell their produce.

If the Honiara Town Council does not see this as a designated market area, therefore its refusal to remove the rubbish and waste, why won’t they close down the market operation?

Currently rubbish is carted from the market area and dumped in the drains next to the White River Bridge or in the river itself.

This attracted flies and stray dogs and becoming a health threat.

It is very unhygienic and not good for the environment as well as the people who are living next to this rubbish dump.

I urge the responsible authorities to please take action of this issue which has been going on for a long time.

Please Honiara Town Council, do something.

Angellah Anisi

USP Campus

Honiara

Are we missing the target?

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE piece of legislation intended to govern the conduct of elections in Solomon Islands is perhaps the best thing that ever happened to this country.

It was gazetted last week. But the weaknesses in the Electoral Act 2018 are beginning to surface.

Steep penalties in the Act do not seem to strike a balance in terms of those who instigate actions intended to corrupt the Act and the ones who implemented them.

Take for example the penalty of a $50, 000 fine, five years in prison or both, being used against those who registered to vote in a Constituency other than their own.

Being made aware of these penalties through media outlets, people are reportedly returning in large numbers to reverse their initial decision. It is a good sign that there still is a degree of respect for the rule of law by ordinary folks.

I contend though that we would be missing the point if we ignore to ask ourselves why the ordinary folks are becoming ‘migratory’ in their behaviour of late.

Why for example have they decided to move away from their own Constituency?

In other words, what is prompting them to do as many have done in registering to vote in a Constituency other than their own?

Is it frustration? Is it the lure of money? What is it?

For example, why did 120 people sail from Ndai Island in north Malaita to Honiara last week so they could register to vote in another Constituency? Or an estimated 200 voters from East Kwaio who were lured allegedly by promises of large sums of money to vote in a Western Province Constituency?

Or the hundreds of voters who have reportedly deserted West Kwara’ae in search of greener grasses in North Malaita?

Or the reported hundreds who came over from Isabel and Central Provinces so they could support a candidate of their choice who is contesting one of the three urban Constituencies in Honiara?

Many of the people who have registered in Constituencies other than their own are largely individuals who voted for losing candidates in the 2014 election.

Their decision to do what they have done is, in a way, a protest vote for being neglected or ignored by the very people who were elected to represent them in Parliament.

What we are seeing today is a by-product of the very conscious decision taken by many politicians to look after only those who voted them in.

This policy of selectivity has produced more divisions and disharmony within communities and Constituencies in the last decade or so than in any other period in our political history.

Until legislative measures are taken to address this political cancer, instigated by none other than the very elected leaders themselves, there is no guarantee things won’t get worse. It only helps the decays and disintegration of this country.

Which brings me to ask why the new Electoral Act 2018 has not made specific penalties against those who masterminded these fraudulent activities? Right now it is the messengers who are being targeted.

It seems we are more interested in dealing with symptoms rather than the cause(s). Any medical doctors would tell you that treating symptoms is unsustainable. It is time the minds behind the various schemes designed to defraud the public are put on the radar.

We have an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past. That opportunity is slipping through our fingers very fast. We have a chance to put the decays of society on a brake or we will have lost an entire generation to the scourge of corruption in this country.

By Alfred Sasako

Taiwan upgrades NRH dengue lab

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0
The dengue expert team inspected the dengue laboratory and provided the practical improvement guideline and suggestions.

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

The dengue expert team inspected the dengue laboratory and provided the practical improvement guideline and suggestions.

TAIWAN continues to support medical health services in Solomon Islands with two experts currently at the National Referral Hospital helping in upgrading the Dengue laboratory.

Medical Technician (MT) of TMC, KMUH—Mr Bo-Yi Huang has been devoting himself to examine the dengue laboratory and assuring quality and exact standard operation procedure for testing, including PCR and ELISA.

Following the first week of September, Dr Ruby Tsai, Jih-Jin, Director of TMC in KMUH organised a dengue expert team from Taiwan to Solomon Islands.

The idea is to hold a conference regarding innovative strategies for mosquito borne diseases.

With that, the team donated and introduced new diagnostic tools with total value up to SBD$130,000 to NRH, MHMS and SIG for more rapid and accurate identification for mosquito borne diseases.

The dengue expert team also inspected the dengue laboratory and provided the practical improvement guideline and suggestions.

MT Bo-Yi Huang also trained local staff of NRH to use these new tools.

Through practicing traditional and updated methods, the local MTs could be well equipped with the skills to prepare for the future challenge of any possible dengue outbreak.

The precise diagnosis could offer proper clinical management and thus reduce severity and mortality of dengue fever.

Recently, Taiwan MOFA also dispatched another scale-up support for maintenance and renovation of dengue laboratory with the total value up to SBD$450,000.

Both Taiwan government and KMUH paid efforts for strengthening the function of this dengue laboratory to maximize practical help for patients in Solomon Islands.

The dengue laboratory of NRH was set up after the first big dengue outbreak in 2013.

This laboratory was designed by the Tropical Medicine Center (TMC) of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital (KMUH) under the grant support of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Taiwan.

This laboratory was donated to NRH in 2014, and under the technical support from KMUH ever since.

KMUH persistently provided the maintenance, quality assurance and updated diagnostic techniques.

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