Patients attending the Good Samaritan Hospital in Guadalcanal reportedly need seating in the shade
The Good Samaritan Hospital is about 30km away from Honiara. It serves the people of North, North-East, East-Central and Central Guadalcanal.
It was built by AMIS (Amici Missione Isole Solomon). It is a locally registered Charitable Trustee.
Patients attending the hospital, especially women attending the anti-natal and post natal days have to stand for long hours in the hot sun without a place to sit.
Georgina Kekea writing in the Solomon Times Online today, Friday, tells of the ordeal for the women and children, as told her by Ellen who is nine months pregnant.
Quoting Georgina, she wrote.����������������
�The sun is hot, and we have been standing here for quite some time�, Ellen says.
�At nine months, she is lethargic, and the heat is making it unbearable � with no chairs to sit on she leans against the gate.
�I live at Gold Ridge. I have to come to the hospital by truck. My visit to the hospital is now on a weekly basis�, she says.
�Ellen says it seemed as if the health workers worry more about their well-being than that of the patients.
�They have on masks, gloves and are well prepared to receive us�, she says.
�Ellen is also uncomfortable, having to stand and wait under the host sun since morning has taken its toll on her. She has an umbrella, but nowhere to sit.
�They should set up benches under the trees, at least somewhere for us to sit while we wait.
�There is enough space in the area there,� she points to a shady area with overgrown trees and hedges.
�A man with his family is also standing in the open, he says while he appreciates that precautionary measures being enforced, they should consider the women and children.
�We have sick people and children here, all standing in the hot sun waiting to see a nurse�, he says.�
I hope the conditions mentioned in Georgina�s article will induce some considerate benefactor to bring relief to the patients at the hospital by providing seating and perhaps a leaf house or other kind of shading where the patients can sit
�Yours sincerely
Frank Short
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