In the rollout of the Ministry of Health’s Role Delineation Policy, to bring health services closer to the people, communities play a vital role in the success of these undertakings. On this note, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services would like to express sincere appreciation towards the leaders and elders including Health Committee members of Wagina community in Choiseul province for their encouraging demonstration of support. Initially, several sites have been proposed for the construction of the AHC following the deployment of an integrated assessment team from the Ministry of Health last year. The contract for construction was also awarded to AE Construction Company last year, however the site was yet to be finalized. An integrated assessment team from the Ministry of Health were once again deployed to Wagina last week and were able to meet with the leaders, elders and community members of Wagina and successfully agree upon the site for the health facility. The site agreed upon is at the heart of the community where the old clinic is currently located. Mr. Berenato Rabaua, a member of the Wagina Health Committee said that the committee is pleased to have had an informative meeting with the team deployed and the explanation of guidelines that the new health facility is to be built upon such as the size of land, accessibility etc has enabled the parties to swiftly come to an agreement.
“We are happy with the site selection after discussions held along with explanation of the requirements on important components to accommodate the facility. Indeed this is a very important project that will greatly change our lives for the better and the Health Committee members of Wagina pledges its full support towards this project”, said Mr. Berenato Rabaua. Wagina Health Committee member.
The Ministry also thanked Hon. Tongoua Tabe Provincial member for Wagina Ward who is also the Premier of Choiseul province for his show of strong support gratefully felt by the team upon arrival at Wagina, an throughout the meetings and site visits. Hon. Tabe was also instrumental in mobilizing the community elders and health committee members for the meetings and site visits and the delivery of brief remarks encouraging everyone to take ownership of the facility and support the construction work is greatly appreciated by the Ministry.
“This new area health center will serve us well into the future, and therefore it is in our interest to take ownership and responsibility as well of the facility. Where and when possible, please do come out and support the construction work, whether through lending a helping hand to carry materials or simply ensuring that the construction workers’ stay at Wagina is an enjoyable one”, remarked Hon. Tabe at the meeting.
Team leader for the health team deployed, Mr. William Timba the Choiseul Provincial Health Director expressed sincere thank you to Wagina community for the demonstration of support and understanding on the need of why the site selected will be critical to fulfilling the various important elements a health facility is required to fulfilled especially in its location. “Thank you so much, work will now commence”.
The people of Wagina community have always traveled to Gizo hospital in the Western Province for medical attention. Though expensive, it is relatively cheaper than to seek this service at the Taro Hospital in the provincial capital of Choiseul. Having an improved health service within the community itself will remove the burden of difficulty in accessing health services along with associated costs as well as risks of crossing the unpredictable seas.
Molly Rabaua a mother of two who recently brought her one-year-old baby to Gizo hospital to seek medical explained that she had to spend over a 1000 dollars just to reach Gizo hospital for her child to receive the required medical care and service. “Apart from transport cost alone, I had to spend hundreds more of my money for accommodation and food in Gizo. This is very frustrating and therefore I am very pleased to learn that a site is now being agreed upon which is assuring that work will now commence with the new health facility.
The old Wagina Clinic will be demolished once the construction work of the AHC kicks off in the next two weeks. In place of this, a temporary clinic will be built to provide emergency services only aside from the normal services clinics provide while waiting for the new AHC to be completed. The AHC level (1) will provide the following services; general outpatient clinics, impatient services, basic emergency and trauma treatment, clinical management of rape survivors, family services, maternal health services, Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) etc.
Similar undertakings of Area Health Centre and Rural Clinic type facilities is also happening in Tukutaunga, Temotu Province, Konide and Dedeu in Isabel Province, Gounataea in Malaita, and Leona in the Western province. Manuopo Area Health Centre in the Reef Islands is near completion and will be opened soon.
Source: MHMS
