The Rural Development Fund (RCDF) aiding rural health requirements in practical ways
A survey of the local newspapers today, Tuesday, highlighted how using Rural Constituency Development Funds (RCDF) the health services has been the beneficiary of two practical projects that will bring life saving land transport for the use of health clinics in West Makira and electricity to a rural hospital at the Seghe Rural Health Centre.
Taking the details of the RCDF funding projects, I can quote the following stories.
A brand new ambulance has been officially handed over to Wango and Aringana clinics in Arosi One, West Makira thanks to the West Makira Constituency Office for recognising the much-needed life saving land transport.
The constituency office handed over the keys of a new ambulance to the nurses and committee members of the two clinics on Friday July 16, witnessed by police officers, the World Vision CVA Team, and people of the surrounding communities.
The Member of Parliament for West Makira Constituency Derick Manu’ari told the Island Sun newspaper that the ambulance cost $600,000, and was acquire with money through the Rural Constituency Development Fund (RCDF).
“The two clinics are situated close to each other, and the ambulance has been purposely provided for emergency cases from the clinics to be taken to the Kirakira Hospital,” Mr. Manu’ari said
Mr. Manu’ari explained the ambulance is an original version equipped with in built life saving devices ordered directly from the manufacturer.
He said sick patients from the Weathercoast side of Makira, where there is no access to roads, could be transported by boat to Arosi one, and the ambulance could collect them from there and take them on to the Kirakira hospital.
Mr. Manu’ari said the provisioning of the new ambulance was part of the plan to improve health services in the constituency.
“It is also our vision to build a mini hospital at the Weathercoast side of constituency, but that is something that will require further consultations with the relevant authorities.”
In the meantime, we are currently improving existing clinics and the clinics that are not accessible to roads will soon be given outboard motors to boost their services to our people.”
Also, the constituency office had also already purchased wheel chairs and is ready to distribute them to clinics and people living with physical disabilities within the constituency,” Mr. Manu’ari said.
End of quote.
Source Island Sun newspaper.
Meanwhile in rural Marovo in the Western Province, China’s funding support for the RCDF is said to be making an impact and work saw the successful installation of a hybrid solar power system at the Seghe Rural Health Centre last weekend.
Quoting the newspaper account of the solar power installation, it read.
The electricity supply now enables Seghe health workers to perform lifesaving delivery operations on pregnant mothers and other general medical operations at night after many years of working with lanterns or battery powered torches.
A joint delegation from the People’s Republic of China’s Embassy and the Government travelled to Seghe over the weekend to launch the Solar Hybrid system and other solar projects installed at a number of schools.
The Member of Parliament for Marovo Constituency Chacha Bule Amoi spearheaded the project for the PRC’s assistance under the RCDF programme to fix the long time needs of the Seghe Rural Health Center.
The funding included the re- wiring of the Rural Health Center’s electrical system and the eventual supply of power by the Solomon Power Hybrid Solar system.
Mr. Amoi also financed other components of the Center’s refurbishment work through funding support from the RCDF programme.
The Head Nurse at the Seghe RHC, Oleander Haro was relieved with the lighting improvements, which she said will ease the burden of attending to patients, especially, pregnant mothers at night.
“Our mini operating theater is now functional with electric power and this is a huge relief for us to attend to patients at night,” she said.
Previously, the hospital’s operating theater was powered by a generator, which most times was unreliable.
“On behalf of the staff members of the center I thank the PRC for funding the power supply under its component of the RCDF,” the Head Nurse said.
China Embassy Counsellor Gong Rui said the PRC was glad to support the project.
Counsellor Rui and other PRC officials also visited other RCDF- related- funded projects. including visiting Nazareth village and other schools to see the impact of solar lights, funded by the PRC through the RCDF.
End of quote.
Source: Island Sun newspaper.
Comment
It is greatly encouraging learning of tangible and important ways RCDF funding is bringing much needed change to rural health services.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
