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Petition on SI medical health service underway

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, it was reported from Honiara last today, February 2, 2018, that a petition was being organized by the patients, health workers and their supporters at the NRH and that signatures were being collected to petition the Prime Minister to call for a Commission of Enquiry (COE) into the medical and health service provided at the National Referral Hospital (NRH)

The petition is reportedly aimed at seeing the recommendations set in the 2009 and 2015 Special Select Committee report into the Quality of Medical Services provided at NRH are fully implemented, with special attention on the development aspects of the NRH.

In April 2009 the SI Parliament resolved on a motion to appoint a Special Select Committee to inquire into the quality of medical services provided at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).

Since then only a few of the recommendations have been achieved and the quality of medical services at the NRH is claimed to be poor.

The petitioners support the call for the national government to carry out work on the recommendations adding that the NRH needs a total restructuring.

In undertaking this petition one should not overlook or diminish the dedicated service performed by the doctors, nurses and support staff of the NRH and take into consideration the tremendous services they perform in often not too ideal working conditions.

Likewise, we should not overlook the help that has been given, and continues to be given, by many charitable persons and organizations committed to the welfare of the NRH’s patients, including children, the disabled, the very sick and to the material, equipment and medical supplies needs of the hospital.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

Manuopo rural health clinic

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and inhumane – Dr Martin Luther King.

Monday, 5 February 2018, A report in today’s news bulletin broadcast by Radio New Zealand International cited the dilapidated state of the Manuopo rural health clinic and the anger expressed by the speaker of the Temptu Provincial Assembly over its condition.

This is what was reported (quote); “A provincial leader in Solomon Islands is calling for the closure of a dilapidated health centre in the remote Reef Islands.

“The speaker of the Temotu Provincial Assembly, Johnson Levela, said the Manuopo health centre is “overtly rundown” and has been neglected by the national government for over 15 years.

“Mr Levela is calling on the Ministry of Health to close the centre and find a better venue for a health care facility.

“Johnson Levela said Reef Islanders deserve better from the government.

“The provincial speaker also asked what had happened to $US1.3 million in funds he understood had been set aside for the rehabilitation of rural health care centres such as Manuopo.

“He called on government to urgently address the issue.”

The Prime Minister, the Hon. Rick Hou, made an election promise to deal with the question of the run-down state of the country’s rural health clinics.

It was some 2 years ago that the Permanent Secretary of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services revealed the then true situation of the dilapidated and run down state of the 317 or so rural health clinics mentioning that many had been built in the early Colonial era.

It is understood that several rural clinics have already been closed in the Western Province.

I previously highlighted the condition of the Manuopo clinic and had hoped there would have been some work to restore it but from Mr. Levela’s comments apparently not.

The rural medical clinic at Tatamba in Isabel Province and the one at Panueli on Savo Island are similarly run down and the health care needs of more than 15 000 people in the two communities affected by the non-functioning facilities.

It is my hope that the Solomon Islands Government will soon give priority to the prevailing and unsatisfactory condition of all the rural health clinics in the expectation that many can be rebuilt or effectively renovated and the community health services returned to the people as their fundamental basic human rights.

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

A fine academic achievement for SI revealed

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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DEAR EDITOR, a Solomon Star article last week revealed some important and fine academic achievements of Solomon Islanders.

Quoting the newspaper the report read:

“There are around 12,000 Solomon Islanders with certificates, diplomas, degrees, masters and PHD’s.

“There are currently at least 4000 students undertaking tertiary studies at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and various other regional tertiary institutions under the Solomon Islands Government sponsorship.”

“Last year government spent almost $290 million on scholarships to ensure the country’s tertiary students get quality training at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and other tertiary institutions abroad.

“The Government wants to see more Solomon Islanders graduate with higher qualifications so they can contribute in a significant way to Solomon Islands nation building efforts.”

In a separate article, also in the Solomon Star, there was a report of the success of several local students who had undertaken Mandarin studies in Taiwan and has become fluent in the language.

To all the Solomon Islands graduates and foreign language speakers I extend my congratulations and express the hope that many more local students will attain high academic qualifications and seek to acquire second language skills.

It might be appropriate to end with the Chinese proverb:   “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”

Good luck!

Yours sincerely

FRANK SHORT

SINU gives gov’t 1-month grace period

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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SINUSA President Mr Reginald Ngati meet with the ongoing students of SINU studied under government’s sponsorship at the Kukum campus on Monday

BY LYNTON AARON FILIA

SINUSA President Mr Reginald Ngati meet with the ongoing students of SINU studied under government’s sponsorship at the Kukum campus on Monday

THE Solomon Islands national university (SINU) has granted a one-month grace period for SIG sponsored students.

This grace period allows government time to cook up funds to meet the students’ fees.

Students under government scholarship can attend classes and access services for the first month of this first semester.

The permission was granted after Solomon Islands National University Students Association (SINUSA) met with SINU management last week.

SINU is aware that continuing students have not yet received their SIG scholarship payment.

There is also the fear of what will happen if the government fails to pay up by the one month’s end.

Through email dialogue with the ministry of education (MEHRD), SINU’s Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Basil Marasinghe encourages MEHRD to use its power to expedite payment of SIG scholarship fees of both SINU’s ongoing students and new ones.

“I trust that you will be able to use your influence and good office to kindly expedite the payment of SIG scholarship fees of the SINU student,” Mr Marasinghe said in an email to Permanent Secretary for MEHRD, Dr Franco Rodie.

“I had granted the permission for the students to attend lectures for only first month of semester one 2018 during which they will have to pay their fees and get enrolled,” Marasinghe said.

Yesterday, SINUSA executive with their President Mr Reginald Ngati ran an appointment with the MEHRD to discuss the issue, to come up with alternatives to resolve students’ ongoing issue.

He said SINUSA will continue to advocate for students’ concern and have government to pay up the $12 million for their fees.

Meanwhile, he appeals to students to be calm and go to classes with focus and dedication towards their studies.

Upper Respiratory Infection high in babies

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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High number of babies taken to the Pikinini Clinic at Chinatown in recent days being affected after the stormy wet weather experienced in the country. PHOTO BY ELLISON VAHI

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

MORE than a hundred babies being brought to the “Pikinini Clinic” at China Town in recent days are diagnosed with Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI).

According to the clinic Staff, the current situation experienced is caused by exposing babies to cold environment, recently during wet weather in the country.

“Homecare is very important as babies’ health depends on it,” said the Pikinini Clinic Staff.

“URTI usually occur after weather patterns experienced recently so it is very important for parents to keep their babies indoors from the cold.

“Babies will have high fever, runny noses and hearing infections. Usually a runny nose is first spotted before a high fever. If a baby’s fever is too high then baby can experience seizure or stiffness.”

Panadol is the only usual treatment given for URTI and the Staff of Pikinini Clinic urge parents not to rely only on Panadol.

“Parents must minimize their babies fever by wiping a cool cloth on their forehead. But it is the babies’ lungs and liver where we hope to keep from getting an infection,” said the staff from Pikinini Clinic.

Tender process for lock-up shops questioned

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY BEN BILUA

THE tender process to obtain an opportunity to run business at the Central Market lock-up shop has been questioned.

Number of reports have been raised stating that the allocation of awards to run the Lock-up shops has been unfair.

Concerned citizens took their frustration to popular social media network group YUMI TOK TOK Forum to express their disappointment.

Thread under the post accommodates vital information and first hand testimonies of citizens who have tried their luck without success in numbers of occasions.

A poster alleged that money has been at play in the previous tender process and selection of winning bidders to run the lock-up shops.

Another poster adds that some of the lock-up shops are owned by few top officials within Honiara City Council.

Source familiar with the issue said the lock-up shops have price tags worth 10 to 50 thousand, and that the money is normally at play during the tender and selection process.

The source alleged that top officials within HCC are also behind unfair decisions that leave genuine bidders emptyhanded.

Source said the ongoing practice highly demonstrates misuse of power, roles, responsibility and money, saying that this needs proper investigation.

The source strongly emphasised that investigation must be carried out so that interested bidders share the benefit of the public facilities.

Schools in Malaita begin classes this week

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY GEORGE MANFORD

AUKI

MOST schools in Malaita for both primary and secondary sectors will begin classes for 2018 academic year this week.

Speaking to Island Sun in Auki yesterday Chief Education Officer for Malaita province Andy Siarani said that schools under the Malaita education authority are expected to begin classes after almost two weeks of registration.

He said, there are no changes on posting of teachers but only few changes were made while most of the teachers will remain in the same schools as of last year.

He said, “Malaita province is one of the provinces that have lots of schools and teachers and when it comes to posting and shifting of teachers to other schools it will take much of our time for doing it.”

He wishes all teachers, school principals and head teachers a better and successful year 2018.

He urges teachers in all schools in Malaita to work together with the Malaita education authority for a better quality education 2018.

Dalipanda acknowledges SIMA for withdrawing strike

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr Tenneth Dalipanda.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

PERMANENT Secretary of Ministry of Health and Medical Services has thanked Solomon Islands Medical Association (SIMA) for withdrawing their proposed strike.

PS Dalipanda expressed this during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on doctors’ new scheme of service in Honiara.

“I salute SIMA and the Solomon Islands Government for being optimistic to avoid the strike,” Dalipanda said.

Dalipanda said his ministry is pleased to ensure the public that health services will continue.

“Public are ensured that health services for the public will continue.”

The strike proposal was of over grievances with government’s failure to review a decade-old scheme of doctors’ services.

Fraud case continues in court today

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

A man alleged of transferring money from his uncle’s bank account to another account will appear in court for mention.

This is in relation to the matter against Don Lisi Talu of Isabel who allegedly transferred bank credit from the victim’s account to his friend’s accounts and withdrew the money for himself.

Police further alleged he used the proceeds for his personal use.

The alleged incident occurred on several occasions between December 16, 2014 and January 23, 2015 after he left the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands.

Police claim to have in possession two Bank South Pacific (BSP) cheques which Talu had claimed he found at a Vura 1 home, in Honiara.

Police also alleged that though the cheques have the names of the victim the accused never returned them to the victim but cashed it at the BSP.

It was alleged that on 11 occasions he continued to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account by forging the signature and name.

He allegedly lied to the Bank Tellers that the account was ceased and then applied for mobile banking to be connected to the account of the victim.

Police then alleged that on 11 occasions after he got connected to the mobile banking service, he made mobile credit top up to his own mobile and to other mobile phones.

He also allegedly transferred bank credit from the victim’s account to nine different BSP accounts owned by other people on 10 different occasions.

Police further alleged that when he met people in town he would ask them to transfer money to their accounts, by saying that he forgot or lost his Automatic Teller Machine (ATM).

The Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the state.

Kadere party refutes media reports on Boyers’ appointment

Written by
Milton Ragaruma
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0

THE Kadere Party has rejected defamatory allegations labelled against the appointment of Party President Peter Boyers as an advisor on the Government’s Traditional Governance Policy (TGP).

A party statement yesterday said Boyers‘ current contract under Prime Minister Rick Hou’s administration is an extension of service similar to his previous contract under former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare’s administration.

Boyers was previously appointed as a Consultant (Advisor) to the Ministry of National Unity Reconciliation and Peace (MNURP) on the implementation of the Traditional Governance policy (TGP).

The statement said Boyers was one of the first 15 top officials to be appointed by Prime Minister Hou to implement the TGP which is a flagship policy of the Kadere Party and a priority of the SIDCC Government.

The statement further clarified that the Parliamentary Wing members of Kadere Party is 19 not 9 as misleadingly claimed by veteran journalist Mr Alfred Sasako.

“If the Public Service Commission wishes to change the salary package which was levelled for that position, Boyers is happy to accept that but at no time has there been any question or discussions or queries on the appointment conditions,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Kadere Party has reiterated its continuous strong support to Prime Minister Rick Hou and his Cabinet.

“We are particularly very happy that we have for the first time a Paramount Chief as a Prime Minister and since the Kadere Party Policy on Traditional Governance is about institutionalisation through legislating traditional governance structures, such as house of chiefs and council of chiefs, we are confident under his leadership this legislation will eventuate before the end of this term,” the statement said.

The Party said Sasako should look at himself in the mirror first before launching his unfounded speculations since he is on the payroll of political friends who are trying to destabilise the cordial relationship between Kadere Party and Prime Minister Hou.

“Sasako needs to tread carefully as he is sacrificing integrity for personal gain and is becoming offensive and defamatory and at the same time is killing the reputation of journalism in this country,” the statement said.

–KADERE PARTY PRESS

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