BY BEN BILUA
GIZO
A high-level delegation led by UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Solomon Islands and Japan’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands visited key partners of the Nutrition Improvement through School Meals Project upon their arrival in Gizo yesterday, Monday, July 14, 2025.
The team began their visit by paying a courtesy call to Western Province Premier Billy Veo and his executive before touring Gizo Hospital, where they met with Director of Health and Medical Services Dr Dickson Boara and his staff.
Japanese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, His Excellency Keiichi Higuchi thanked Premier Veo and his executive for their support, adding that Japan is pleased to fund and assist the school meal project.
UNICEF Solomon Islands Chief of Field Office, Benjamin Grubb acknowledged both the Government of Japan and Western Provincial Administration for their collaboration.
He emphasised UNICEF’s commitment to child welfare in Solomon Islands, particularly through the nutrition-focused school meal project, currently piloted in Western and Isabel Provinces.
Grubb highlighted concerns about children’s growing dependence on processed foods and stressed the importance of improving diets to enhance learning outcomes.
“We need to address this issue with our young generation and I count on Western Province to make this project a success,” Grubb said.
Premier Veo welcomed the initiative, expressing readiness to support the programme.
He also thanked UNICEF for selecting six schools in the province to be part of the pilot phase, calling the project “vital” in promoting healthy eating habits.
Provincial Secretary Patrick Toiraena shared similar sentiment saying that the programme revives the tradition of using local foods in school diets.
He said Western Province’s Planning Division will closely coordinate with partners to ensure successful implementation.
The project, funded by Japan and implemented by UNICEF in partnership with national and provincial governments, aims to introduce climate-smart, school-based meal programs in nine schools—six of which are in Western Province and three in Isabel Province.
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