It was a historical moment recently and one that marked the beginning of what is expected to be a life-changing journey for all Solomon Islanders when Health Minister Hon. Dr Culwick Togamana finally penned his signature to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on health cooperation between the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services of Solomon Islands, after what has been two years in the making.
The MOU will oversee the implementation and construction of the Comprehensive Medical Centre at the Eastern Wing of the National Referral Hospital.
Once completed this will be the country’s first comprehensive medical centre capable of diagnosing heart-related problems and other renal diseases including dialysis capabilities. In its practical sense those having heart problems, such as chest pains, hypertension or high blood pressure, various forms of heart diseases, including heart defects, cardiovascular disease or illness affecting blood vessels and the four valves of the heart, can be examined for precise identification of the problem with the relevant and appropriate treatment provided. The new medical centre will be useful along with the CT scan equipment.
People with complaints related to chronic kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury, kidney stones, infections and cysts and cancer can be diagnosed and necessary treatment provided.
The signing of the MOU followed the signing of the on-site feasibility study of the project’s in May, last month. The financial arrangement for the proposed 4 storeys medical comprehensive centre (CMC) is provided for the MOU and will be fully funded by PRC in closely collaboration with the National Referral Hospital.
The MOU also enabled short and long term visits and specialized attachments, study visits, and human resource deployment of medical teams in both China and the Solomon Islands.
This will see specialist doctors and including nurses from China coming into the country not only to help with health care services but more importantly transfer important crucial knowledge and skills to our medical team in the country.
Likewise, our medical staff will also have the opportunity to travel to and also work in China to gain experience, knowledge and skills to further enhance their capacities. To enable this to happen, the MOU also provide counterpart hospital collaborations between the Solomon Islands and China.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2019 China has been a major donor to the country’s health sector, especially towards the country’s preparedness and response to COVID-19.
All the support received were also formalized with the signing of the handover certificate between the government of the People’s Republic of China and the Solomon Islands Government.
The signing of the MOU was made possible with the visit of China’s State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a high-level delegation who arrived on Wednesday this week in Honiara.
The signing of the MOU and handover certificates were witnessed by the Honourable Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The MOU will now pave the way for both parties to implement the partnership arrangements going forward.
Source -GCU
Comment.
The proposed Comprehensive Medical Centre to be built at the NRH is good news and I very much hope the facility when completed and professionally staffed will see to the assessment and treatment of those patients suffering from rheumatic heart diseases without the need for offshore referrals. I also very much hope screening programmes will be introduced for early detection of all forms of cancer in men and women. It also my great hope that there will be a strong focus on rehabilitation of amputees awaiting artificial limbs, as well as advice and programmmes designed and activated to reduce the incidences of NCDs that contribute so much to major health concerns.
The MoU mentions the Comprehensive Medical Centre will be fully funded by the PRC, but this provision must ensure adequate budgeting for the effective functioning of the Centre year on year.
Prevention is better than a cure and the soon to be built CMC must become the focus for health guidance and sickness avoidance programmes to include advice on diet, lifestyles, habits (such as cigarette smoking and the over-consumption of alcohol), and such programmes to be delivered at school and college level, particularly on dietary advice.
I very much appreciate the Solomon Islands will, for the first time, be far better equipped to deal with major health concerns.
gǎn xiè nín chéng nuò de yī liáo zhōng xīn。(Thank you for the Medical Centre.)
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
