From the High Commissioner’s Desk – Rod Hilton

2025 is shaping up to be another big year for Australia’s Health Partnership with Solomon Islands.

From 10-12 March, I was privileged to join the Honourable Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Paul Popora Bosawai and Australia’s Ambassador for Global Health, Dr Lucas de Toca for a busy three-day program of health events and announcements.

Together we launched Australia’s new SBD 150 million program of health sector support to Solomon Islands, inspected the progress being made in the construction of the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre, handed over equipment to the National Referral Hospital and National Medical Stores, and learned about the positive impact of Australia’s support for solar power supply at the Good Samaritan
Hospital in Tetere.

I was truly proud to stand alongside the Minister Bosawai at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services on 12 March to announce a new four-year Solomon Islands Australia bilateral Health Partnership.

Under the partnership, Australia will invest over SBD 150 million to improve access to quality health services for all Solomon Islanders across every province, as well as here in Honiara.

By dedicating SBD 75 million in grants to Provincial Health Departments, Australia will help ensure that people can access treatment closer to home, avoid costly transfers to the National Referral Hospital and take pressure off Number 9.

The new Health Partnership will also deliver targeted, small-scale health facility upgrades across every province and respond to emerging government health priorities.

Recognising the important role of women in the health sector, the Health Partnership includes funding for a Permanent Secretary’s Women in Health Leadership Award.

During their visit to the Good Samaritan Hospital in Tetere on Monday 11 March, Minister Bosawai and Ambassador de Toca, guided by Sister Dali, saw first-hand the positive impact of Australia’s investments in small-scale infrastructure.

Delivered through an Australian Off Grid Renewable Energy initiative, a new solar power system at Good Samaritan has eliminated the cost of diesel power generation and freed up operational funds to focus on health care.

I’m pleased to advise that a similar solar energy project has recently been announced for the Atoifi Adventist Hospital in Malaita, and another funding round under Australia’s REnew Pacific off-grid renewable energy program is now open for applications.

I was delighted that on 11 March, Minister Bosawai and Ambassador de Toca had the opportunity to inspect construction progress at the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre in East Honiara, an SBD 250 million investment in Solomon Island’s health system. This new urban health centre will provide maternal health and birthing services in a modern facility and take much needed pressure off the National Referral Hospital. It’s great to see the works progressing so well! Australia is engaging closely with the Naha community and creating hundreds of local jobs, developing skills and building careers.

We are working closely with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara City Council, and National Referral Hospital to ensure the new facility will be staffed, equipped and ready to commence full operations in early 2026.

Ambassador de Toca and Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Andrew Schloeffel also visited the National Referral Hospital to inspect the Australian-Funded High Dependency Unit, and to donate critical medical supplies. They also paid a visit to the National Medical Stores to hand-over the keys to a brand-new forklift, helping NMS staff to more efficiently and safely manage large consignments of supplies.

Australia is working hand in hand with Solomon Islands, as we have been for the last 20 years, to help build a more resilient, equitable and inclusive health system able to address current and future health challenges.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the critical role that all health workers and health officials in Solomon Islands are playing to improve health services and achieve a healthy future for all.

You are the champions on the front lines and I’m very pleased that Australia can partner with you in this great effort! I look forward to sharing more details of what we are achieving together in future updates.

Lukim iu neks taem!