A professor from Taiwan’s Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital’s (KMUH) Department of Parasitology says outdoor defecation and the use of it as fertilizer in agriculture must not be practised as it can become the source of parasitic infection for other people.
Professor Jiun-Jye Wang stressed this to the paper in a recent interview.
He expressed that there are a number of “don’ts” in other words, prevention measures to take when it comes to practicing good personal hygiene while at the same avoiding parasitic infections.
Wang to avoid catching infections, you must avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked food, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water and dry hands properly before and after meal as well as after using the toilet, have on footwear when walking on soil or ground and do not defecate outdoors or use defecation for fertilizers in agriculture.
He emphasized that outdoor defecation is not a good practice or the use of it as fertilizer given its high probability of becoming the source of infection for other people.
Wang furthered that these measures are most important for children.
“If children establish the habit of good personal hygiene they will bear the concept as they grow older while at the same time help reduce the rate of infections”, he said.
ONE way women from communities in Northeast Guadalcanal’s Tasimboko area can address the dire need of sufficient water supply and proper sanitation is by seeking assistance from the national government through our Member of Parliament.
This was voiced by Legalau village elder, Luke Pegoa Ngelea who says their community and surrounding communities under St Paul’s Pro Cathedral of Tasimboko are all facing the impact of these issues.
He said one way he thinks is possible to address these difficulties is to call for assistance from the government through their MP.
Additionally, Ngelea said that women in Tasimboko who are members of a number of savings clubs, as part of a recognized group should also seek help from aid donors.
He mentioned that women and children are the most affected in the communities in terms of not having sufficient safe clean drinking water and proper sanitation facilities.
On the contrary, Ngelea expressed that men in Tasimboko are proud husbands and very supportive when it comes to assisting their wives and are happy to support them.
He explained that they help the women from toiling the soil to planting crops, carrying the produce along long distances to lending a hand when it comes to preparing stalls to set up their goods at the market to sell.
“Even the young children help their mothers prepare their produce for sale at the market”, he said.
Ontong Java island of Luaniua from above. Photo: Beni Knight.
BY GEORGINA KEKEA
Ontong Java island of Luaniua from above. Photo: Beni Knight.
LOW lying atolls like Ontong Java are faced with a grim future because of the impacts of climate change. Despite asking for help and assistance, the people there are still left to fend for themselves.
In 2011 a report titled ‘Vulnerability and assessment report for low lying atolls – Ontong Java’ was released with key findings and recommendations a key area for government and stakeholders to consider.
Seven years on, the people from Ontong Java are singing the same song, and still asking government for assistance in their everyday living to help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The report pointed out that the impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture, Food Security, Land Degradation, Forestry, and Biodiversity are far ranging.
The impacts includes salt water intrusion in the garden land coupled with coastal inundation and erosion has highlighted big concerns for the people’s livelihood particularly on the food security and fuel wood.
Land degradation needs to be corrected while food security improvement depends very much on how agriculture, land degradation, forestry and biodiversity are improved.
“New sustainable and permanent farming systems need to be designed and developed to enhance the production of food and other livelihood needs in order to meet the demands of food security” the report stated.
The report stated that human Settlements will be affected by impacts of climate change especially due to sea level rise and coastal erosion. Pelau community for almost a decade has already moved further inland because of king tides and storm surges.
“A temporary village on an island was almost eroded away. The people had expressed concern and in the household survey 100percent of the respondents showed that they favour relocation if the Government offered alternative sites for people to move to.
“They have also expressed that all options for relocation, including external marriage with people on bigger islands, offering employment and study opportunities to encourage the young generation of islanders should be considered as self-attained adaptation options by the people themselves.”
The survey also gathered that the people from the low lying atolls, more so Ontong Java, wants the present or future governments, Non-government Organisations and all other stakeholders to demonstrate their concern about the climate change phenomenon and its possible impacts on man and the ecosystem by taking affirmative action to address it.
“Alternatives should be created which would serve as adaptation strategies for the citizens of Ontong Java and all others that are immediately affected by the impacts of climate change.
“It is imperative that the government institutes policies that will address all aspects of climate change, and effectively plan for and understand the short, medium and long-term response measures required to address all aspects cited in this report.
“What is urgently needed at present is the will to pursue a proactive approach to climate change and its impact on Ontong Java or those who are vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” the report stated.
It was found that some priority needs that has to be addressed include financial literacy programmes, climate awareness, education and training, capacity building for agriculture, sustainable environmental stewardship, resource management training and planning, and a phased out implementation of relocation options, plans and strategies.
Recently Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media had been to Ontong Java and revealed that the people there are still living on their own without much assistance from the government or stakeholders. Nor had the priority needs stated in the report had been addressed.
PRIME Minister Rick Houenipwela has arrived in New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
On Monday (NY Time), the Prime Minister will hold discussions with other world leaders at the Concordia Annual Summit held in New York.
The leaders discussions will be based on the theme “Transforming Vulnerable Small Islands toward greater economic Resilience through Innovative financing and strategic Partnership”.
Prime Minister Houenipwela is expected to share with other leaders the current reforms the Government is undertaking to explore innovative investment opportunities.
Later on Monday evening, Prime Minister Houenipwela and Madame Rachel Houenipwela will also attend a reception hosted by United States President Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister will also briefly meet with President Trump.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Houenipwela is invited to deliver a statement on strategies to eliminate Malaria in Solomon Islands and the Melanesian region.
US President Trump is also expected to address world leaders at the UNGA on Tuesday morning.
On Thursday this week, the Prime Minister will also deliver another statement at the High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases in the pacific region.
The Prime Minister will then deliver the country’s national statement at the UNGA on Friday evening next week.
Prime Minister Houenipwela will also be having several bilateral meetings during the margins of the UNGA.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Milner Tozaka will also be delivering a statement at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, Climate Change and Security Dialogues on Monday (NY Time).
Minister Tozaka will also be involved in other bilateral meetings this week.
THE National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) continues its efforts in ensuring all relevant partners and stakeholders both at the national and provincial level, know and understand the new NDMP-2018.
An NDMO team last week successfully conducted a roll out and disaster plan development workshop for Malaita province. Now the Malaita Province will lead the development of its Provincial Disaster Management Plan.
This week, the NDMO furthers its efforts in rolling out the 2018 Plan and supporting the development of the Provincial Disaster Management Plan for Guadalcanal Province. Participants are drawn from all government departments and private sector, which are establishing or established within the province.
Malaita and Guadalcanal Provinces will lead the development of their respective disaster management plans, with guidance provided by the National Disaster Management Office
This government led workshop to continue the advocacy of the Plan, is on the run again after few months of delays due to financial constraints.
The NDMO acknowledges the cooperation of Oxfam Solomon Islands, SIDT, the UNDP, Guadalcanal Province and the Solomon Islands Government for supporting the workshop for Guadalcanal Province.
Dr. Luke Forau (c) flanked by Governor Denton Rarawa and outgoing Deputy Governor Gane Simbe with few management staff at CBSI Board Room.
Dr. Luke Forau (c) flanked by Governor Denton Rarawa and outgoing Deputy Governor Gane Simbe with few management staff at CBSI Board Room.
THE Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) has formally announced the appointment of its new Deputy Governor, Dr Luke Forau (PhD).
Forau, who succeeds former Deputy Governor, Mr Gane Alva Simbe, assumed responsibilities as of Tuesday, September 18. Simbe retired from official duties last week after serving the institution for more than 32 years.
Forau has been part of CBSI for almost 19 years, starting work at the Bank on January 4, 1999. Over the years, he served in several positions within the Economics Department, all the way up to the Chief Manager position in 2010. His most recent appointment at CBSI was for the senior executive role as Advisor to the Governor’s Office in 2016.
Hailed from the island of Tikopia, he attended Safoa Primary School on the island before doing his secondary school education at Luesalemba Provincial Secondary School (Forms 1-3), Santa Cruz Island, and completing it at Waimapuru National Secondary School (Forms 4-6). In 1992, he was offered a SIG scholarship to do Foundation studies at USP, Fiji and thereafter continued to pursue his undergraduate studies. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, Management and Public Administration at the University of South Pacific. He returned and was employed as a teacher at Su’u National Secondary School.
In 1999 he joined CBSI to work in the Economics Department where he was eventually appointed as the Assistant Manager in 2006. In 2007, he went for further studies, under the Bank’s scholarship, at the Australian National University in Canberra for two years where he graduated in 2008 with a degree award in Master of International and Development Economics. He was later promoted to the Chief Manager position in the economics department in 2010.
In 2012, Forau was awarded a four year Australian Government Scholarship to pursue Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the fields of Economics at the University of New South Wales (Canberra).
He graduated with his PhD after the completion of this programme and upon his return in January 2016, the CBSI Board then appointed him to the position of Advisor to the Governor’s Office.
From these achievements, work experiences, wealth of knowledge and his high qualifications, Forau was then selected as the best candidate for the post, and received his appointment as the new Deputy Governor for CBSI earlier this month.
CBSI is the premier financial institution of the country and is at the centre of the banking and financial system, performing a number of essential functions including the formulation and implementation of the country’s monetary policy. CBSI’s primary objective is to maintain price stability, foster, maintain a stable financial system, and support general economic policies of the Government.
DEAR EDITOR, I find it quite disturbing in the news this week two reported incidents of illegal firearms being moved around the country.
The first news involved the use of firearms to rob a logging camp in the Shortland Island groups on September 15 and the latest being the arrest of a man allegedly in possession of a firearm and live rounds on Guadalcanal three days after the incident in the Shortland Islands.
While there is no reason to believe that both incidents are related, the worrying factor is the alleged intention of the Bougainvillean to sell the weapon to a client on Guadalcanal which resulted in his arrest and the free flow of weapons across the border as we have seen so many times.
With the lack of mechanisms in place to monitor cross border trade in the Western Solomons, how do we know that this incident is only a one off?
The issue of cross border crime in Western Solomon Islands is not a new issue and it is only a matter of time before communities within the area face a similar scenario. I know there are ongoing work by the Government to addressing this, however, it should be a matter of national urgency and resource allocation.
More government budget should be allocated for security and in this sense, the protection of our border with PNG
The country will soon go to the polls early next year and such news does not help in the already tense period we had with the voters’ registration period over the few weeks.
The Government should be proactive in ensuring that its people are provided with security as we go into the first elections for years without the presence of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
We have seen the negative impacts of cross border movements in Western and Choiseul Province in recent years, therefore it is time the Government puts a stop to criminal elements from Bougainville from entering the Solomon Islands.
A new portable sawmill recently handed over to landowning tribes of Tutu Zone at Northwest Choiseul is part of agreement between landowners and Treasury Timbers logging company.
This is according to Choiseul Province Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) for Ward 12 at Varisi Lavata, Hon Nerio Ulemiki, who explained that the portable sawmill is to assist landowners to cut timbers for their houses and also to earn income from for other purposes needed.
“The portable sawmill was blessed by the Parish Priest of Christ the King Parish at Voruvoru, Fr Henry Paroi, before it was handed over to landowners at Buronga by the Manager of the company,” explained Hon Ulemiki.
Treasury Timbers Ltd had handed over the portable sawmill on the 31st of August.
NGELLA’S famous Forum (NGF) again remind Ngella Constituents to be mindful of the fact despite registering in another Constituency being not qualified to register in, the objection period is coming up.
From reports by observation, Ngella Constituents are leaving their Constituency because of many reasons that only they themselves can explain why they are doing such.
Still, NGF urges Ngella Constituents to remember that under the law, anyone can object to their registration for the Electoral Commission and if proven right, they will be disqualified to vote in the National General Election (NGE) for 2019.
“Please members make our people to be aware of this rule,” urge NGF.
One particular main highlighted reason for current cross border registrations to take place too according through interviews is many have pointed that people are fed up of the types of leadership over the past years in their Constituency (Ngella). This falls back to the question according to many questioning “Why did you vote for them in the first place”.
POLICE at the Honiara Central Police Station have attended a report on September 20, 2018, of an alleged break-in at the Ports Authority area, Point Cruz, Central Honiara.
The break in happened at a Government building in the Ports area in which the Bio Security office, Customs and Excise, Ports cashier office, container service room, Finance office, HR office, Training managers office and the paymaster office are located in.
Police are yet to identify any suspect as investigations continue into the matter.
Details of any items or goods that may have been stolen are still not known, as work progresses to gather more detail.
Police say the break-in may have happened around 2.30am.
“I appeal for assistance from members of the public, who may have been in the Ports area and nearby to come forward with information to assist the investigation,” says Provincial Police Commander Honiara City, Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga.
Information can be passed to Honiara Central Police Station by contacting the phone numbers: 22999 (24 hours), 23304 (Monday-Friday from 8.30am – 4.30pm.
Or contact Honiara Police Communication Centre on phone numbers: 23666 or 999 (free toll line).
