Much as what was expected; the Island Sun newspaper published an Editorial piece in this morning’s edition which was titled “Time to focus on our hospitals.”
I will quote some of what was written.
Health authorities finally came out yesterday to admit the crisis situation at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
No sick person deserves to be treated on the floor of a national hospital, let alone lying helplessly there while waiting for a doctor.
Sadly, this is exactly what’s happening right now at the country’s top hospital.
Authorities blamed the situation on overcrowding and shortages of bed.
Be that as it may, it’s quite heartening to note they are now bringing in place short-term measures to alleviate the situation.
These include:
1. Establishment for the first time of a Bed and Patient Taskforce Committee.
2. Keeping the medical laboratory operating on a 24-hour basis to enable doctors to make diagnosis early and plan for medical management of patients.
3. Setting up customer patient care services at the Accident & Emergency Department (AED).
4. Reducing the length of stay for patients
5. Controlling overcrowding at the AED
6. Creating an additional 71 beds, and others.
The current situation did not just happen yesterday.
The problem has been there for years, albeit at a much smaller scale.
Had authorities taken their responsibilities seriously, it should not have reached the situation we are in today.
We have a rapidly growing population, but with a health care system that has been neglected for years.
So the situation at the NRH does not come as a surprise for those who have been reading the signs.
Here’s what must be done now.
First, upgrade and equip all the provincial hospitals so that the number of referral cases from the provinces could be reduced.
Second, stop talking and start building the proposed hospital earmarked for east Honiara.
The nation urgently needs a bigger and better hospital with the capacity to cater for our growing population.
It’s time to translate the speeches and promises to action.
End of quote.
Comment
The Editorial is blunt on what it is considered necessary regarding health care and the overall needs of the health service.
The emphasis on what needs to done “now” I believe we all know will not happen. It is right to have said the situation at the NRH has been evolving over many years, at least 20 years to my knowledge.
It is true that a new Referral Hospital is required and one that will be fully equipped and resourced as needed as the countries only Referral Hospital.
The construction of a new hospital will need funds on a scale which I do not believe the government has and funding support would likely have to come from one or more donor partners such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan or even China.
Frankly, and to be honest, I am surprised that has never materialized or been seen as a priority by a donor country, even in 2003 and before the departure of RAMSI in 2013.
The population increase year on year is very concerning and little wonder the NRH has seen growing numbers of patients needing medical attention and care. Birth control is a touchy subject at home but must be addressed.
NCDs contribute to the pressure on the health services, especially the NRH where most beds are occupied by patients suffering from illnesses brought on by NCDs and especially diabetes, heart conditions and even cancer.
The answer to NCDs lies largely in diet and changes necessary in lifestyle ways and habits, including cutting out smoking, reducing the consumption of alcohol, especially the illegal use of kwaso, taking regular exercise and returning to traditional foods and abandoning imported food products containing too much fat and salt. Also, cutting out sweet, sugary drinks.
Yes, the provincial hospitals need upgrading and equipping but again the much needed work will require substantial funds and only Japan if I am right, is currently assisting one provincial hospital.
The rural health clinics and rural health centres need urgent attention, as I have often written about with little evidence of change or improvements, with the exception of just one or two provincial administrations having taken the initiative to build new rural clinics.
The NRH has announced steps to try and address the current problems being experienced, including the measures outlined in the Editorial piece quoted. Let us wait and see what outcomes occur.
In the longer term and when the Pacific Games are over and perhaps the threat of Covid is not so great, I very much hope there will be more attention given by the government and its development partners to health care provisioning and to the needs of the NRH.
Development partners I believe are genuine in seeing to improvements in the Solomon Islands in health care, education, infrastructure development, agriculture, technology, tourism, gender equality, airports, sanitation and security, to name but a few. However, turning a blind eye (“The Nelson touch,” to the NRH hospital needs) cannot forever be put off.
I guess, however, family planning, birth control and the measures to reduce or cut out NCDs will be on the agenda for any future talk of development assistance for a new and better NRH.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
