Solomon Islands: Hoping for substantial in-roads in 2020 for universal health coverage and the restoration of Area Health Centres
I believe it was in 1995 that a meeting held with Pacific Health Ministers that a commitment was made for a “Healthy Islands Vision” with an emphasis on the importance of health service delivery throughout PIC’s communities.
The Healthy Islands approach had the notion of health services for all, or universal health coverage.
Twenty years on from that first meeting of Pacific Islands Health Ministers, in 2015. there was a review of the vision of Healthy Islands when it was found that the concept provided leaders across the Pacific with a unifying, long-term vision for improving health outcomes and for recognizing the social and environmental determinants of health, including aspects of health education, nutrition and the environment.
Taking into consideration the need for health reform to lead to universal health coverage, the Solomon Islands Government launched a programme in 2011 to reform the entire health system to provide quality health care that would be more accessible for all throughout the Solomon Islands.
The Role Delineation Policy, as it is known, is envisaged to be the roadmap towards universal health coverage. The RDP is the tool to be used for health service planning and infrastructure development in the health sector and should ensure the different levels of primary care are provided at health facilities throughout the country.
It is my understanding that the World Health Organisation (WHO) was brought on board and worked with the Ministry of Health to design and develop standards for health care facilities as well as supporting reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health programmes.
34 Area Health Centres have been earmarked for renovation and, with funding from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and technical support from WHO work on the renovations is expected in 2020.
A good number of the existing Health Centres are dilapidated and needing complete remodeling, including providing septic tanks, running water and toilet and shower facilities.
Solar panels are expected to provide electricity, including lighting for emergencies.
Many of the existing Health Centres as I have written about for several years are supposed to provide health care for large communities and I have in mind, particularly, the run-down facilities at Tatamba in Isabel Province and Panueli on Savo Island where thousands of people in the community have been denied adequate health care for a decade or more.
In all the places where it is expected the RDP will bring about change there will be a need for the local communities to support the building works and renovations and to ensure road access and site security. I feel sure, however, many in the community will only be too glad to help the long-awaited building programme in such a way.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
