Guadalcanal Province has been bestowed with a dental truck courtesy of the NBSI Health and Welfare Trust. Mr. John Sullivan QC, the Trustee of NBSI Health and Welfare Trust, expressed his organization’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Guadalcanal Provincial Government and its people in matters concerning healthcare.
“The NBSI Health and Welfare Trust is dedicated to providing services in the health and community welfare sector of Solomon Islands. And this is one of the projects in which my trustee is involved”, stated Sullivan. He expressed gratitude to the Victoria Dental Health Services for donating the dental truck to his trust, which would ultimately benefit communities and children on Guadalcanal.
Dr. Martin Hall, the Chief Oral Health Adviser of Dental Health Services Victoria, was present during the handover and emphasized the significance of the dental vehicle. Dr. Hall highlighted the collaborative efforts among various stakeholders as a testament to the remarkable outcomes achieved through teamwork. He explained that three decommissioned dental vans were donated, with one specifically allocated to the Solomon Islands. Dr. Hall further elucidated that the vans were part of the Colin Riley scholarship program, which focuses on public oral health and facilitates professionals’ participation in a study tour across the South Pacific. Dr. Hall expressed optimism that the dental truck would effectively provide dental and oral health services in Guadalcanal and conveyed his pleasure in witnessing the event on behalf of his friend, Dr. Colin Riley. He urged the Guadalcanal Province Dental and Oral Health Division to responsibly maintain the donated dental truck so it can fulfill its purpose.
Deputy Premier Dr. Lazarus Rina extended gratitude to the donors for their support to the Guadalcanal Provincial Government Health team, emphasizing that the dental vans would complement the services provided by the Good Samaritan Hospital in the North Guadalcanal plains.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Guadalcanal Province and NBSI Health and Welfare Trust on June 28th, the Trustee will oversee the operational and maintenance aspects of the dental truck for five years, after which Guadalcanal Province will assume full control. The MOU also outlines that the majority of Dental and Oral Services will target six schools in the northwest, northeast, and central Guadalcanal, in addition to offering oral and dental services to communities. In conclusion, as per the MOU, the dental truck will be named ‘Fiona’ in honor of one of Dr. Riley’s daughters.
