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Mala to pass $33m budget this week.

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI

MALAITA Provincial Assembly is gearing to pass the 2023/2024 original budget estimate of $33, 469, 196 by Friday this week.

The new financial year begins on Saturday, April 1

In light of that, the assembly was convened where the budget was presented by provincial minister for finance, Randol Sifoni on the floor of assembly yesterday.

Going through the budget, Sifoni said the budget estimate as follows;

  • total revenue budget summary is estimated at $33, 469, 196
  • The total expenditure budget summary is estimated at $33, 469, 196
  • The total recurrent revenue for financial year 2023/2024 is estimated at $19, 571, 109

He said from the total recurrent revenue, MPG estimated its local revenue to contribute around $6, 483, 421, SIG through service grant to contributes 11, 997, 656, timber right hearing of $300, 000, MPGIS second appointed day fund of 30, 000, supports to WDC by Integrated Economic Development and Community Resilience (IEDCR) program of 700, 920 ad IEDCR annual fees of 59, 112.

Adding that from the difference of total recurrent revenue less total recurrent expenditure figures, MPG anticipated a surplus of $6, 422, 700 to cover for the ward funded projects.

He said the total original recurrent expenditure for financial year 2023/2024 is estimated at $13, 148, 409.

The disbursement of these expenditures covers core expenditure levels of the provincial government and they are.

  • Salary and wage, $7, 284, 622
  • Consultancy cost, $1, 396, 755
  • Operational cost, $2, 717, 032
  • Assembly and Executive expenditure, $875, 000
  • Debt Servicing, $450, 000
  • Repairs and Maintenance, $425, 000

The total original capital revenue is $13, 898, 087.

Sifoni furthered that MPG has a new PCDF allocation of SBD4, 686, 139, commitment carried forward of SBD1, 166, 925, IEDCR new allocation of SBD2, 886, 869, commitment carried forward of SBD312, 409, UNPD new allocation SBD, 218, 396, commitment carried forward of SBD627, 349 and SIG Youth funding of SBD3,000, 000.

He said on the original capital expenditure, the province plans to spend a total of SBD13, 898, 087 for the fiscal year including ward funded projects of SBD6, 422, 700, totaled to SBD20, 320, 787.

CERVICAL CANCER ALARM

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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SIPPA Executive Director Ben Angoa and IPPF Director-General Dr Alvaro Bermejo.

SIPPA and health authorities urge women to test amid growing cases

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

The number of cervical cancer cases in the country has grown – silently.

SIPPA and health authorities are sounding the alarm calling on women to voluntarily come forward for testing.

The age of vulnerability has lowered. Now women as young as 30 years old are at risk.

The main message is the earlier a case is detected the better the chances of treatment.

With the high rate of cases and low turn-out for testing, the country’s Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) and national referral hospital (NRH) are urging women to break the barrier and voluntarily come forward to clinics, hospitals and SIPPA clinics for testing.

“Last year SIPPA screened only about 77 women,” SIPPA Executive Director Ben Angoa revealed at a press conference last week.

He explains this low turn-out was due to last year’s covid-19 transmission in the country.

However, starting February this year, the number of women turning up for voluntary testing is slowly climbing, he adds.

He says this trend must continue.

“It is confidential, but I must say we have quite a number of diagnoses and the number is increasing. It is really an issue that people of Solomon Islands need to really consider as well as the Government.

“As of this year starting February the number of women seeking Visual Inspection of Cervix (VIA) is slowly increasing, women accessing VIA.

“This programme is really helpful. We are hoping that when women hear about screening, they will definitely seek our available services because it is a serious issue affecting women now in the Solomon Islands.

“Currently we are servicing the elder women from 30 years and above. We don’t have any diagnoses recorded for ages below and above 18,” Angoa said.

He explains that VIA cancer screening is one of SIPPA’s priority programmes which it is helping the Ministry of Health (MHMS) to roll out in ‘unreached populations’ in the rural areas.

“Cancer is on the rise and really affecting our women and the only way that we can help them is doing VIA screening, and what we do now is we start expanding our services to other provinces and SIPPA is training its nurses for them to become confident and specialised on that area of screening.

“Now all our nurse are trained, we have support from IPPF (International Planned Parenthood Federation), the Niu Vaka strategy, we have other partners like Safe Aid so we have a group of partners that are supporting us to roll out this programme.

“Now only SIPPA is doing this service apart from the Ministry of Health. We are also supporting the government in reaching out to the most unreached population.”

IPPF Director-General Dr Alvaro Bermejo who visited the country last week said the cancer screening service is vital in this region of the world which has higher rates of cervical cancer.

“The new technology really allows us to prevent maternal deaths better and we are delighted to see the progress that they made in the SIPPA’s outreach programme into the communities,” Bermejo said.

NRH CEO Dr George Malefoasi last week also reiterated the call for women across the country to come forward for testing.

Malefoasi explains that there is no mass testing due to cultural barriers, and that testing is done only on women who come forward voluntarily.

He adds that treatments are available, some in country and others can be accessed overseas.

“Cancer treatments available are surgical and chemotherapy.

“Hormonal and radiotherapy is also one but currently not available in the country.

“Earlier we diagnose and intervene, the better the outcome,” he said.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) website, symptoms of cervical cancer are as follows:

Early-stage cervical cancer symptoms:

-irregular blood spotting or light bleeding between periods in women of reproductive age;

-postmenopausal spotting or bleeding;

-bleeding after sexual intercourse; and

-increased vaginal discharge, sometimes foul smelling.

As cervical cancer advances, more severe symptoms may appear including:

-persistent back, leg or pelvic pain;

-weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite;

-foul-smell discharge and vaginal discomfort; and

-swelling of a leg or both lower extremities.

Elderly men urged to seek medical advice on prostate cancer signs

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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NRH CEO Dr George Malefoasi. Photo by GCU

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

ELDERLY men have been encouraged to seek medical advice if faced with difficulties when passing urine or see blood in urine.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Referral Hospital Dr George Malefoasi says, “With prostate cancer, elderly men encouraged to seek advice if difficulties with passing urine or see blood in the urine is experienced.”

He said clinics, the National Referral hospital and private practitioners are currently offering service for prostate cancer screening.

“Through clinical examination like rectal examination suspected cases of blood test can be sent overseas to confirm if the person has prostate cancer.”

Malefoasi said some of the prostate cancer pre-warning signs are aging/hesitancy – trouble urinating/ blood.

“Prostate cancer warning signs, may not be easy to detect early, but patients should present early and if have family history should be vigilant. Affects mostly ages more than 50 years old.”

He said for individual contracting prostate cancer it can be confirmed through rectal examination, blood test – PSA and Med imaging – CT scan.

Malefoasi treatment available in the country are surgical and chemotherapy.

“Radiotherapy is not-available.”

Isabel leaders call on Mines to stop playing ‘consultant’

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA

Leaders in Isabel province are calling on the ministry of Mines to stop playing the role of consultant in a controversial mining operation there.

A full scale operation is underway at Suma in Bugotu area Isabel Province following an agreement signed between Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited (SIRCL) and some landowners.

According to reports, Environment Impact Assessment carried out had failed twice but the Ministry is pushing to please the government’s ambition and that is to launch a full-scale mining operation in Isabel.

The report adds that there is no agreement of benefit sharing, let alone a failed term and condition agreement between the company and the landowners – meaning the investor and the government is running away with the benefits.

To date already SIRCL have about 90,000 plus wet metric tonnes of extracted nickel ore at 1.5% nickel to 2% nickel at their designated stock piles at their Suma Mining Project in which to date putting more pressure on Mines Division.

It is said that all the mess behind Isabel Nickel Project is driven by the government through the Ministry of Mines and Energy for acting like a consultation company rather than an institution established to respect the law of the country when comes to fulfilling process according to legal procedures.

Report has it that the push towards fast tracking the nickel mining operation is for economic growth and development of Solomon Islands – a move spearheaded by the Ministry of Mines and Energy without thorough check to make sure everyone including the landowners and other stakeholders are involved.

It states that Mines Division is implementing an “in-country Nickel Mineral Processing and Extraction Project but sadly, there is no involvement of resource owners and that makes the proposed ambition unpopular.

Internal dialogue is currently underway between the Director of Mines and Deputy Director of Mines and mines officials in liaison with Commissioner of Lands to appointing an Acquisition Officer aiming at conducting a brand new land acquisition for all customary land areas being earmarked for nickel mining developments – A process established to invade the EIA process as EIA process failed twice.

While the development will certainly boost the country’s economy, Isabel leaders fear that the project will be similar to bauxite development in Rennell where landowners are still waiting for their benefits.

Isabel leaders now calls on the Ministry of Mines and Energy to stop acting like a consultation company and start doing what is right.

Nickel deposit in Isabel ‘sold like hot cake’

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA

NEW reports have emerged that the Nickel deposit in Isabel has been sold like hot cake at the expense of landowners and innocent people who will be affected by the mining operations.

More controversial arrangements have emerged as information regarding the mining operation at Suma and other proposed mining operation in Isabel province continues to come to public.

Early this week, this paper published a similar article stating that the process which led to the granting of mining licence to the company that operates at Suma was done without satisfying the country’s law.

On Monday, it was identified that Solomon Island Resources Company Limited (SIRC) was the company operating at Suma tenement – one of the nickel rich deposits on the Island.

Yesterday, new information states that the owner of Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited has sold its share to Win Win Mining Company Limited.

Report states that Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited now owns another PL over South East San Jorge under a new company name FAR EAST.

These report reconfirmed that Win Win Mining Company is the company currently operating at Suma Tenement.

Report has it that the landowners of Suma tenement objected to proposal for Win Win to be granted the prospecting license during a meeting with the Mines and Mineral Board but to their surprise the government rejects the resolution.

Knowing that the landowners will not accept Win Win, the government granted Solomon Islands Resources Company Limited (SIRCL) the mining license little that the landowner knew that SIRCL will later sold its shares to Win Win hiding behind a different company name.

It seems that the transfer of shares between Solomon Islands Resource Company Limited and Win Win was done without consulting the landowners and it is the very reason why there is no legal agreements which includes benefit sharing reached for mining operation at Suma.

Latest report states that SIRCL have 90,000 plus wet metric tons of extracted nickel ores at 1.5% nickel to 2% nickel at their designated stock piles at their Suma Mining Project.

The pressure in on the Ministry of Mines and Energy (Mines Department) for export permit.

Scholars and prominent leaders of Isabel province are seeking clarification from the Ministry of Mines and Energy for the mess the Ministry created.

The question is, who is behind all these mess? Is it the ministry? The government? The politician? The landowners?

Malaria and diarrhoea cases increase in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki provincial town of Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI clinic has over the past weeks reported an increase in malaria and diarrhoea cases in certain communities within Auki.

A statement from the clinic said there is increase in cases for both diseases in certain communities within Auki town, and the trend is stable.

It said according to data gathered, the increase is beyond normal data the clinic usually collects.

The clinic warns people to take appropriate measures to avoid the disease.

It said given the situation that the province is running low on drugs, it will be a challenge to control these rise in cases.

There are also reports of similar increases in rural health clinics around Auki town.

Supervising Director of Malaita province health, Dr David Danitofea said yesterday that his office is yet to be fully made aware of these increases in malaria and diarrhoea cases, but says people are asked to take control measures.

He said people must take up responsibility to make sure their homes are clean and apply hygiene practices at all times.

Women encouraged to check for breast and cervical cancer

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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NRH CEO Dr George Malefoasi. Photo by GCU

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

ALL women are encouraged to do health check-ups for breast and cervical cancer at the clinics and hospitals.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Referral Hospital Dr George Malefoasi voiced this at a recent press conference. 

Malefoasi said all cancer screening is ongoing as part of health programmes in the clinics and hospitals.

“Clinicians, doctors and nurses have been trained to carry out cancer screening. 

“Cancer screening is done by basic physical examinations and aided by diagnostic tests which are medical imaging (ultrasound/ mammogram), pathology testings (histology), which helps in confirmation,” he said.

Malefoasi said cancer screening should be available in the clinics where there is a doctor and a trained midwife or a nurse.

“With breast and Cervical Cancer, all women are encouraged to seek advice at the clinic (nurse) and doctor (Government & Private practitioners). Cancer screening is already happening,” he said.

Malefoasi said cancer treatments available are surgical and chemotherapy.

Hormonal and radiotherapy is also one but currently not available in the country, he adds.

“Earlier we diagnose and intervene, the better the outcome,” he said.

Malefoasi said breast and cervical cancer screening are part of reproductive health services at the clinics including youth centres (SIPPA and all public and private clinics).

He said at the national referral hospital breast and prostate cancer screening, treatment and management of care are dealt with by the hospital surgical and medical oncology (cancer) teams.

This is the same for cervical cancer screening and treatment is dealt by Gynaecology and oncology teams at the hospital.

Malefoasi adds that in terms breast cancer pre-warning signs include – lump (pain).

“Most times its painless lump. How it is confirmed – Women will suspect breast lumps (from above clinics) are referred to the NRH for further assessments. The assessments include the following; Physical examination by the doctor followed by ultrasound (of the breast) (confirmation, size and shape) Mammogram when it is available

“I understand this is being procured by donors – FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration) is done, result by pathologist available in a week. (Histology- confirmation test (duration- 1 to 2 months) Specimens come back early now because results come electronically so takes about 3 weeks on average from time of sent. Longer from provinces,” he said.

“What we do mainly is opportunistic screening that is people who present to us. Not mass public screening which we do not have the capacity to do at the moment. For breast cancer we have been giving talks to encourage Breast Self-Examination (BSE) to feel abnormal lumps. And come forward if there is an abnormal lump.

“Women above 40 years old, and those who have family history of breast cancer be extra cautious/vigilant. If you can emphasise that the early the women presents the better the prognosis. They should not delay but come early for any lump or even a concern,” he said.

Malefoasi further adds by explaining the pre-warning signs of cervical cancers. One of key signs is abnormal bleeding. 

He stressed this can be confirmed when a woman with abnormal visual inspections of the cervix undergo pap smear. Pap smear is stained and visualised for abnormal cells- carcinogenic (histology confirmation).

Malefoasi said regarding the treatment for cervical cancer it can be through surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Long queue disturbs issuing of passport books

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Long queues and overcrowding in front of the Immigration office has hindered issuing new passports.

This has led to many new passport books remaining uncollected at the Immigration office.

Immigrations is calling on public to cooperate and not to over-crowd the office entrance.

A notice from Immigration said they have around 500 to 700 uncollected passports in their office, however over-crowding and long queues disturbs them from issuing the passports to the owners.

Immigration office said once the door entrance is clear it will be helpful to the officers to deal with the issue.  

The notice says that seasonal applicants disrupted normal office services and becoming a concern for visas and other Immigration services.

Therefore, the Immigration are urging the public concerned especially those seasonal workers to cooperate with them so that they can fairly serve everybody who wanted their service.

Meanwhile one of the passport applicants said the long queues and over-crowding outside the Immigration started way back last year.

The applicant said that some of them already put their application forms last year and yet to collect their passports.

“If only the Government decentralize the Immigration office to other locations it will be helpful, because our population increases and its time the government think of other location to avoid such over-crowding,” the applicant said.

Gov’t appeals to private sector to join Safe and Green campaign

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Chair of the Government Services Integration Committee (GSIC) overseeing Government Preparations for the Pacific Games, in the office of the Prime Minister and cabinet, Bernard Bata’anisia. Photo supplied.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

Government has appealed to private sectors and all stakeholders to join the Safe and Green clean-up campaign scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2, 2023.

This call was made by the Chair of the Government Services Integration Committee (GSIC) overseeing Government Preparations for the Pacific Games, in the office of the Prime Minister and cabinet, Bernard Bata’anisia on behalf of the government.

“The government is seeking the assistance of the Private Sector and all the other stakeholders to clean-up this weekend to compliment government ministries and agencies, which are doing cleaning up on Friday afternoons,” Bata’anisia said.

He also appeals to the public and residential homes to join up in the clean up.

“The cabinet has approved Ministries doing weekly Friday afternoon clean ups from March 10 to December 15 2023, in preparation for the games,” Bata’anisia said.

He said GSIC recently held a meeting with private sector group and briefed stakeholders on how better they can plan and improve the “keep Honiara clean” campaign.

Bata’anisia said stakeholders were also briefed on the Honiara City Council by-laws and on the spot-fines which the cabinet approved on March 9, 2023, as a means of preparing Honiara city clean and ready for the November games.

Present in the meeting were representatives from the Our Telekom, CEMA, Solomon Islands National University, Central Bank of Solomon Islands, National Provident Fund, Solomon Water, Solomon Power, HCC, Solomon Airlines, Forum Fisheries Agencies, Bank of BSP, DBSI, Solomon Ports Authority.

Mental health acute award to be built before PG23: Dr Malefoasi

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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NRH CEO Dr George Malefoasi. Photo by GCU

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

PLANS to construct a new mental health acute ward to accommodate individuals who are suffering from neurotic and psychotic mental disorders prior and during the upcoming Pacific Games 2023 in November is progressing now.

This was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Referral Hospital Dr George Malefoasi.

“Plan is in place for Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and NRH to build the proposed new Mental Health Acute ward well before the Games in November. This project has been approved since 2021 but couldn’t start due to Covid 19 and due to payment process delays.

“The new mental health acute ward will make available 5 beds for acute patients, and 1 for very critical patients needing isolation and management. So we are working on this now,” Malefoasi said.

He confirmed that the ward will be built next to the current day clinic and NRH psychiatric unit next to the old morgue site.

“Some Relatives have shown willingness to support the psychiatric department in contributing to the welfare of the psychiatric patients of theirs,” Malefoasi said.

He said the revised mental health policy which is due for cabinet consideration calls for multisectoral approach in caring, promoting and protection of mentally illness in the country.

“This is due to increasing youth men and women suffering from neurotic and psychotic mental disorders. Especially depression among youths,” Malefoasi said.

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