The Island Sun newspaper has reported today that the Covid-19 isolation ward renovation at the National Referral Hospital funded by the government of China is nearing completion.
H.E. Li Ming, the Ambassador of China in the Solomon Islands, confirmed this week, at a handover event, a sum of USD$150,000 was given by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out plan.
The Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Health and Medical Services Pauline McNeil in her statement in relation to the Covid-19 isolation ward renovation said it is vital to note that isolation wards are important facilities not only for Covid-19 but for all other infectious diseases from the sick patients to health workers, other sick patients at the hospital and the general public.
“As such, the isolation ward will not only be used for COVID-19 patients but also other patients with infectious disease such as TB, measles or any future pandemics similar to COVID-19,” PS McNeil said.
The Minister for Health Dr Culwick Togamana said his Ministry was grateful and filled with sincere appreciation to the PRC government for the continuous support rendered towards health efforts against the Covid-19 pandemic including Covid-19 vaccination.
Comment
I never fail to appreciate financial, material or organizational help for the SI health services, especially rendered to the National Referral Hospital from whatever source, nor do I fail to acknowledge the support.
I do, however, once again, raise the vitally important need for a fully functioning Rehabilitation Workshop at the NRH for the making and custom fitting of prosthetic limbs to the hundreds of ex-NRH patients that succumbed to diabetes and had a lower limb amputed.
The soon to be fully renovated Isolation Ward at the NRH is a welcome development but essentially a preventative facility, whereas a Rehabilitation Unit, is foremost for rehabilitation, not prevention, and a facility that will give hundreds a return to a degree of normality in terms of mobility and very possibly a chance of returning to gainful employment.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
