BY RODRICK DESURI
AUKI
Careless attitudes and the continued disregard for new developments in Auki, Malaita Province, remain a concern among members of the public, despite awareness campaigns that aim to keep the town clean.
As the province prepares for its Second Appointed Day celebrations next month, a clean-up campaign was launched on Monday this week.
Community awareness activities have also been carried out by health officials and provincial security personnel to encourage residents to maintain cleanliness throughout the town.
However, Frank Samo, Malaita Provincial Youth Coordinator has expressed frustration after reportedly seeing people spitting betel-nut residue onto newly tar-sealed roads in Auki this morning.
He said the problem is particularly noticeable at bus stops and other public areas where people gather while waiting for transport.
“Some people continue to have bad attitudes and behaviours. They spit betel-nut residue all over the town.
“But this morning was disgusting when I saw some just spitting freely without any concern,” he said.
The coordinator urges the people of Malaita Province to take responsibility in maintaining cleanliness and protecting new developments in Auki and other urban centres across the province.
“Please, my good people, we must try to be responsible for our town and dispose of our rubbish properly to keep our town clean.
“We might think that we are smart in other things, but at least we should take care and be responsible in some ways to make our town clean,” he said.
Similar concerns have been raised by other members of the public who want to see Auki remain clean, attractive and welcoming, particularly as the province prepares for its upcoming Second Appointed Day celebrations.
Residents are being encouraged to work together to maintain the town’s cleanliness and respect the developments intended to improve Auki for everyone.
Photo credit: Frank Samo
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
A COUPLE has been arrested by Gizo Police in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Western Province.
The victim, who was the biological sister of the female suspect, was allegedly living with her sister and brother-in-law when the incident occurred in 2024.
According to reports, the female suspect allegedly played a role in the rape by forcing and restraining her younger sister and removing her clothes to allow her husband to sexually assault the victim.
It was alleged that the victim reportedly sustained severe internal injuries to her private parts and was admitted to Gizo Hospital before being referred to the National Referral Hospital in Honiara for further treatment.
Sadly, the girl died from her injuries this year.
The matter was subsequently reported to Gizo Police by family members and relatives after the victim’s death.
Police investigations later led to the arrest of the couple, who were allegedly attempting to evade justice by fleeing to Guadalcanal Province.
Staff-in-charge of the Gizo Provincial Crime Investigation Division, Inspector Leonard Rokoto, confirmed the arrests, saying the suspects were apprehended last week at Lambi in Guadalcanal Province.
He said the suspects were brought back to Gizo to face further investigations.
Rokoto said charges were laid against the suspects with assistance from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Gizo.
He said the male suspect has been charged with persistent rape and murder, while the female suspect faces charges of compelling rape and murder.
Rokoto said both suspects appeared before the Western District Magistrates’ Court this week and were remanded at Gizo Correctional Facility.
He said the operation was coordinated by the Gizo Police Crime Investigation Division, with support from the Head of Department, Provincial Police Commander, Operations, and police officers in Honiara.
Rokoto described the arrests as a significant achievement for Gizo Police and a demonstration of the commitment of officers carrying out their duties.
He explained that the case was being handled in Western Province because the suspects were from the province and should be dealt with by Gizo Police.
Rokoto said handling the case locally will also help strengthen confidence and trust between police and communities.
He condemned the alleged crime and warned that police will take cases involving serious sexual offences and violence against children seriously.
The case is now before the court.
Photo credit: Ben Bilua
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BY JOY OFASIA
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is urging women across Solomon Islands to come forward for breast cancer screening. Acting Permanent Secretary of Health, Dr Gregory Jilini, said breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Solomon Islands, with about 128 women diagnosed and 47 deaths recorded each year.
Speaking during the launch of a breast cancer awareness campaign at the National Referral Hospital (NRH), Dr Jilini said early detection was critical because breast cancer is more treatable when identified at an early stage. He said the number of new breast cancer patients requiring chemotherapy at NRH increased from 39 in 2019 to 99 in 2022, highlighting the growing need for awareness and early screening. Despite the availability of mammography equipment and trained radiographers, screening participation remains low.
Acting Permanent Secretary of Health, Dr Gregory Jilini deliveing his remarks at the campaign launch event.
Dr Jilini revealed that NRH conducted only 190 mammograms between January and June 2026, averaging about 32 screenings a month in a country with a population of more than 700,000. He said many women had never undergone mammogram screening, while fear, stigma, cost and the reluctance to attend appointments alone were among the barriers preventing women from accessing the service. “When screening is routine, as in Australia, more than nine in 10 women with breast cancer survive five years.
Early detection is the difference,” he said. Dr Jilini said the campaign aims to encourage more women to get screened, raise awareness and promote community support for early detection. He called on families, churches and employers to encourage women to make time for screening, adding that women could also support one another by attending appointments together. “Don’t wait for symptoms, bring a sister, bring a friend and every woman in a pink shirt becomes an advocate,” he said.
The campaign is locally led, with mammograms conducted during the initiative being counted and results scheduled to be shared on World Radiology Day on November 8. Dr Jilini said the campaign could be repeated every October if successful, with the approach potentially extended to other health concerns, including cervical cancer, diabetes and hypertension.
He also urged women who have breast lumps or other concerns not to wait for the campaign but to seek medical attention immediately. “We have the machine, the skills and a team ready to welcome you. What we need now is you. Get screened and bring a sister,” he said.
BY TONY IROGA
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), with support from the Solomon Islands Australia Partnership for Health (SIAPH), officially launched Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026 yesterday at the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
A statement from the Ministry of Health yesterday said opening the month-long campaign, Acting Health Permanent Secretary Dr Gregory Jilini said breast cancer remains the most common cancer affecting women in Solomon Islands, with approximately 128 women diagnosed each year and around 47 losing their lives to the disease.
Dr. Jilini urges women to prioritise their health through early detection and timely medical care.
“Breast and cervical cancers together account for nearly half of all female cancers in the country, noting a worrying surge in new patients requiring chemotherapy at NRH, rising from 39 in 2019 to 99 in 2022,” Jilini highlighted.
He said many women seek help only at advanced stages due to fear, stigma, financial pressures, or prioritising family needs over their own well-being.
“Your health matters. Seeking help early is an act of courage and strength,” Jilini said, reminding the public that successful treatment is far more likely when abnormalities are caught early.
“Despite having mammography equipment and trained specialists at NRH, screening rates remain low, with only 190 mammograms conducted between January and June 2026,” he said.
“This year’s message is simple: Get screened. Get your pink ribbon shirt,” Dr Jilini urged, calling on families, employers, and communities to support women to access timely care and turn awareness into life-saving action.
Photo credit: MHMS
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BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
A 52-year-old retired nurse is helping the local economy in Malaita Province by running his family’s old coconut farm, showing both the big successes and the daily challenges faced by local rural farmers in the country.
Rueben Laufilu retired as a nurse from the Ministry of Health and became a full-time copra farmer in year 2010. This year his business received a huge boost by CEMA under the authority’s Farmers First initiative.
He now runs a large coconut plantation in Kware, located on the border of West Kwara’ae, where he keeps an old family tradition alive by planting new coconut trees to replace the old ones on the land passed down from his grandfather and father.
Even though his farm is doing well, Mr Laufilu confirmed that rural farmers face big problems, especially a severe lack of building materials and basic tools needed to build proper copra dryers.
The lack of proper drying tools directly hurts the processing work and makes it hard to get high-quality copra ready for the market before export.
However, his business recently received a big boost from the Commodities Export MarketingAuthority (CEMA), which gave out free, high-quality copra bags to growers under its Farmers FirstInitiative.
Laufilu noted that this helpful packaging support marks a big improvement from private buyers who in the past made independent farmers pay for all their bags.
To ensure the long-term survival of the local sector, Laufilu asked the national government to properly fund CEMA’s offices, especially its main purchasing station in Auki.
Steady government funding, he said, would allow the authority to keep supporting farmers and hopefully raise the buying price of copra in the future.
[Photo: Rueben Laufilu 52, a retired nurse now a fulltime coconut farmer. Photo supplied.]
Parliament is seeking public submissions for an inquiry into Caesarean sections, commonly known as C-sections, at the National Referral Hospital (NRH). A C-section is an operation to deliver a baby through a cut in the mother’s abdomen and uterus. It may be planned or carried out as an emergency when complications make it necessary to [...]
The post Parliament seeks public submissions on C-section services at referral hospital appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
Far away in the southern Solomon Islands lies Bellona, a beautiful island surrounded by bright sandy beaches and a rich cultural heritage.
But behind the beauty is a community facing a serious challenge – access to basic health services.
At Nuku Clinic in West Bellona, one nurse is doing his best to care for the island’s people despite limited space, shortages of medicines, poor facilities and the difficulty of travelling between Bellona and Honiara.
RN Nurse, Tamua Mau’eha, at the Nuku Clinic. Photos credit – Douglas Vahia.
For Tamua Mau’eha, 46, a registered nurse at Nuku Clinic, serving the people of Bellona is both a responsibility and a daily challenge.
Mr Mau’eha is from Tangakitonga village in West Bellona and has worked at the clinic for about three years.
Nuku Clinic is classified as a Rural Health Clinic, which means its services and facilities are limited compared with larger health facilities elsewhere.
But for Bellona, the clinic is extremely important.
It is the only medical facility serving the island.
‘The distance is a big challenge’
For nurse Mau’eha, geography is one of the biggest problems.
Bellona is far from Honiara, where medicines and other medical supplies come from.
When the clinic runs short of drugs or needs advice from health authorities, communication with Honiara can be difficult.
“The geographical location is a big challenge because we are far from Honiara, where the suppliers of medicines are,” Mau’eha said.
Transportation is another major concern.
“Transportation is also a major challenge I face here. Medical services transportation is very important,” he said.
For the nurse, being the only staff member at the clinic also creates a heavy workload.
Everything has to be done by one person.
“It is tiring. Everything has to be done by myself. It is a big workload,” he said.
A clinic without enough space
The problems do not end with staffing and medicine.
The clinic itself is too small.
Inside Nuku Clinic Sink. Photo credit: Douglas Vahia.
Mau’eha said there is not enough space to properly accommodate patients, while storage facilities are also lacking.
There is no proper bed or dedicated space for patients who need to be admitted.
There is also no proper facility for childbirth.
In some cases, deliveries have to take place at the homes of pregnant women.
“Here we used to go to the respective house for childbirth,” he said.
Many pregnant women instead travel to Honiara for delivery, but that comes at a cost.
For families already living in a remote island community, travelling to town for medical care can be expensive and difficult.
Nuku Clinic building. Photo credit: Douglas Vahia
The clinic also lacks proper sanitation.
There is no proper toilet, no reliable water facility and no proper dumping site.
Mau’eha also raised concerns about community support and the lack of adequate staff accommodation.
There is only one staff house, and it is old.
He said he has already raised the challenges with the Member of Provincial Assembly, who is also the Deputy Premier, and hopes improvements will come.
A clinic serving the whole island
Ramsey Sokaika Puia, the Nuku Clinic caretaker. Photo credit: Douglas Vahia.
Ramsey Sokaika Puia, 47, from Nuku’Angoha village in West Bellona, is the caretaker of the clinic.
He knows the history of the facility.
According to Mr Puia, the Nuku Clinic was built by the European Economic Community after the devastating cyclone that struck Rennell and Bellona Province in 1999.
Since then, he said, little improvement has been made to the building.
Yet the clinic continues to serve the entire island.
Puia said the clinic provides medical services to more than 2,000 people across four wards.
Inside the clinic, space not enough. Photo credit: Douglas Vahia
That makes Nuku Clinic more than just a small rural facility.
For the people of Bellona, it is their main place to seek medical help.
Puia and his family have tried to improve the condition of the clinic and its staff accommodation.
But much of the responsibility has fallen on community members.
From a drinking place to a protected clinic
In the past, the clinic area and old staff house were also used by youths as a place to drink and consume alcohol and socialise.
The area was vulnerable to vandalism.
Puia and his brothers decided something had to be done.
They applied for assistance through an Australia partnership programme and managed to fence the clinic compound.
He said the support helped secure the facility.
Puia also acknowledged the contribution of his brother, Smith Kaitu, saying that without his help they would not have been able to secure the clinic.
A call for action
For the people of Bellona, Nuku Clinic remains an important part of island life.
But the challenges facing the clinic are difficult to ignore.
An ageing building, limited space, medicine shortages, transport problems, poor sanitation and inadequate staff accommodation all affect the ability of health workers to provide services.
Old Nuku Clinic Staff house. Photo credit: Douglas Vahia
And with more than 2,000 people depending on the clinic, the need for improvement is urgent.
Puia is calling on the responsible authorities to take action.
“As a caretaker and community member, I kindly call on the responsible authorities to take this seriously and develop and improve our clinic for our people and generations to come,” he said.
Bellona may be far from Honiara, but its people should not have to feel far from basic healthcare.
For the nurse working alone, the caretaker protecting the facility and the thousands of people depending on it, Nuku Clinic is more than a building.
It is the island’s lifeline.
And its future matters to everyone who calls Bellona home.
*Reporting for this story was supported by Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS).
The Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre in Honiara has moved to round-the-clock birthing and primary medical care, six weeks after it opened, the Australian High Commission said.
BY TONY IROGA
THE Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) has successfully completed a targeted mobile clinic outreach in North Malaita, expanding access to essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for rural communities.
The outreach program, which ran from September 27 to October 2, 2026, was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the Malu’u Area Health Centre.
Speaking to Island Sun today, SIPPA Registered nurse (RN) of Malu’u branch Mrs. Nester Suinao highlighted the importance of bringing healthcare services directly to the people in rural areas.
“The initiative was led by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and Malu’u Area Health Centre, with SIPPA supporting the delivery of SRH services, including family planning and HPV screening,” Mrs. Suinao said.
She said that SIPPA volunteers played a crucial role in community engagement throughout the operation by facilitating focus group discussions that allowed local residents to express their health needs.
“SIPPA volunteers supported the outreach through community engagement and focus group discussions, creating opportunities for community members to share their experiences, concerns, and perspectives on SRH,” she explained.
The mobile outreach team successfully delivered services across five rural communities in North Malaita, including Arao, Fo’ondo, Mbita’ama, Afufu, and Orukalia.
Mrs. Suinao expressed gratitude to the local leaders and residents for their strong participation and support throughout the week-long mission.
“The feedback from the communities we reached was very positive, with many expressed that the program was deeply needed and helpful for people living in rural areas,” Mrs. Suinao said.
Addressing future initiatives, she affirmed SIPPA’s long-term dedication to rural health coverage while noting operational dependencies.
“SIPPA remains committed to supporting the delivery of vital SRH information and services to rural communities and working alongside health authorities and local leadership,” she said.
She added they are looking forward to conducting more community outreaches in the future, subject to available financial budget and resources.”
Following the completion of the Malaita mission, Mrs. Suinao revealed that SIPPA teams have deployed to Choiseul Province to undertake similar clinical interventions.
“Our SIPPA team is currently deployed on a humanitarian recovery outreach in South Choiseul, where they are conducting a similar healthcare program for local communities,” she confirmed.
[SIPPA team during last week’s outreached in North Malaita communities. Photo- Supplied.]
BY TONY IROGA
All vendors selling cooked and ready-to-eat food at the Honiara Central Market must complete mandatory food safety training and obtain a valid permit by Monday, 12 October 2026, or risk having their food confiscated and destroyed.
The Honiara City Council (HCC) issued the directive in an official public notice today, warning that strict enforcement will begin immediately following the deadline.
According to the statement from HCC, the new requirements apply to all local market vendors as well as traders traveling from other provinces to sell food in the capital. The mandate covers cooked meals, rice, noodles, meat, fish, vegetables, fresh-cut fruits, prepared juices, cakes, pies, and pancakes.
To obtain a Ready-to-Eat Food Permit, vendors must complete prescribed food safety training before undergoing a health inspection. HCC Health Inspectors will assess personal hygiene, food storage, clean water access, waste disposal, and general cleanliness.
“No valid food safety training, no permit,” HCC stated in its official warning. “No valid food permit, no sale of cooked or ready-to-eat food.”
The council emphasized that unauthorized food will be removed or destroyed by authorized Environmental Health Officers starting October 12 to prevent food-borne illnesses across the community.
Members of the public are also urged to buy food only from certified vendors who maintain proper hygiene standards.
[Vendors and buyers at the Honiara Central market. Photo- HCC]
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Guadalcanal Province is facing a critical healthcare shortfall, operating without a provincial hospital despite a massive population surge.
Guadalcanal Provincial Premier Willie Atu issued a fierce demand for immediate infrastructure development, revealing that a formal plan is now underway following positive breakthrough discussions with the national Government for Regional Advancement and Transformation (GREAT).
Speaking during a handover of the Ruavatu parish community hall last month, Premier Atu sounded the alarm on the province’s stark demographic reality.
Mr Atu said Guadalcanal’s population skyrocketed to 154,022, growing at an aggressive annual rate of 3.2 percent, significantly higher than the national growth rate of 2.6 percent according to the 2019 census,
He adds that despite the province has a high population compared to other provinces that already possess their own operational provincial hospitals, Guadalcanal continues to lack a hospital for its people.
“My challenge as the premier of Guadalcanal Province is how I can serve the people... in vital services such as education and health,” Premier Atu said.
He said that the healthcare crisis reached a deadly tipping point during the global pandemic, COVID-19 where Guadalcanal residents paid the ultimate price for this infrastructural gap.
“Even during the COVID-19 period, where you met death just in front of your face, the people of Guadalcanal were rejected when trying to go to the National Referral Hospital (NRH),” Premier Atu recalled.
The premier condemned the exclusion, calling the rejection of dying citizens a profound and lasting concern for the entire province.
He said the systemic neglect prompted him to confront the national government during this year’s Guadalcanal Second Appointed Day celebrations.
“Following my pledge on that day, the GREAT government sent their delegation to discuss the matter with us and we told them that the province already have a plan for the hospital to serve the people of Guadalcanal,” Premier Atu confirmed.
While expressing gratitude to the national government for coming to the table to finalize the strategies, Premier Atu maintained that execution remains paramount to solving the province’s ongoing humanitarian and healthcare emergency.
[Guadalcanal Provincial Premier Willie Atu expressing the significance of having a provincial hospital. Photo – John Houanihau.]
BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Prime Minister Matthew Wale has announced plans to shift the management of overseas medical treatment funds for Members of Parliament from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) directly to Parliament to ensure a transparent, non-political process.
Wale responds to questions ask last week during his press conference, regarding the use of public funds for MPs seeking healthcare abroad.
Prime Minister Wale clarified that these treatments are legally governed by the Parliamentary Entitlements Regulations and set by the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission.
He said that currently, members are eligible for funding strictly on a medical referral basis.
While the budget for overseas treatment has historically been held within the PMO, Wale revealed that from next year onwards, the fund will be budgeted and managed under the supervision of the Clerk to Parliament.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the health of MPs is important, but noted that keeping the fund within the PMO leaves it vulnerable to being politicised.
He said moving the administration to Parliament will ensure that funding simply follows the established legal process.
[PM wale speaking to local media during the press conference. Photo- John Houanihau.]
Naval vessel KRI WSH-991 to deliver medical, food, agricultural and community assistance during October visit
BY NED GAGAHE
INDONESIA will bring a humanitarian and community assistance mission to Solomon Islands when Indonesian Navy vessel KRI WSH-991 arrives in Honiara later this month.
The vessel is part of Indonesia’s Port Visit 2026, a regional mission combining defence diplomacy with healthcare services, social assistance, agricultural support, sports activities and community infrastructure development.
An Indonesian Embassy spokesperson in Papua New Guinea, Freddy Wesly, said the mission demonstrates Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with its Pacific neighbours.
KRI WSH-991 is scheduled to visit Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, carrying personnel and supplies intended to support communities in the four countries.
The vessel is scheduled to be in Honiara from October 18 to 22, where the programme will include diplomatic engagements, community activities and humanitarian assistance.
The mission carries an Integrated Task Force of 313 personnel, comprising 156 ship’s crew and 157 non-crew personnel, including personnel who joined the mission in Sorong.
For its Pacific journey, the vessel is carrying a wide range of assistance, including medicines, medical equipment, food packages, sports equipment, coconut seedlings, construction materials and water tanks.
Health support
Healthcare is one of the major components of the mission.
The task force is carrying 58 types of medicines, 113 types of medical consumables and various medical equipment to support medical assistance during the port visits.
The equipment includes infrared thermometers, nebulisers, blood pressure monitors and safety boxes.
Sports equipment is also being carried for community and youth activities, including basketballs, futsal balls, rugby balls, footballs, nets, basketball rings and backboards.
Food assistance
The humanitarian cargo includes 2,000 food packages for distribution across the four Pacific destinations.
Additional assistance includes 300 food packages from Indonesian state-owned enterprise partners and another 100 packages from the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs and Yayasan Kita Bisa.
The vessel is also carrying 200 cartons of instant noodles, 500 cartons of bottled water and 50 cartons of cooking oil.
Supporting communities
The mission also has an agricultural and community development component, with KRI WSH-991 carrying 600 improved coconut seedlings intended to support local agriculture and longer-term livelihood opportunities.
For community infrastructure activities, the vessel is carrying 300 bags of cement, including 100 bags of Merah Putih cement and 200 bags provided by Indonesian state-owned enterprise partner Semen Indonesia.
It is also carrying 24 water tanks, each with a capacity of 1,500 litres.
A range of tools and materials will support community improvement and rehabilitation activities, including hoes, pick hoes, sickles, hammers, saws, chisels, sharpening stones, measuring tapes and wheelbarrows.
Cleaning and painting materials are also included.
Defence diplomacy
Wesly said Port Visit 2026 goes beyond traditional naval and diplomatic engagement by creating opportunities for direct interaction with communities.
The mission brings together personnel and support from Indonesian government ministries and agencies, state-owned enterprises and community partners.
Through healthcare, food assistance, sports, agriculture, water supply and community infrastructure activities, the mission seeks to translate Indonesia’s diplomatic relationship with Pacific countries into practical community-level engagement.
KRI WSH-991’s visit to Honiara will therefore combine official diplomatic engagements with activities aimed at strengthening people-to-people relations between Indonesia and Solomon Islands.
The planned route for the mission is Jakarta–Sorong–Port Vila–Suva–Honiara–Port Moresby–Wanam–Sorong–Jakarta.
The Honiara visit from October 18 to 22 will form an important part of Indonesia’s wider Pacific engagement.
The mission reflects Indonesia’s approach to defence diplomacy that extends beyond government-to-government relations to direct community assistance.
Through the visit, Indonesia is expected to reinforce its message of friendship, solidarity and cooperation with Solomon Islands and its Pacific neighbours.
[Photo: Indonesian Navy vessel KRI WSH-991 arrives in Honiara later this month. Photo supplied.]
BY JOSES SAREN
It was 8 or 9 at night when nurse Mareta Wegu reached the Rawo River, far from her clinic on the road to Kirakira, Makira Ulawa province coming all the way from Maerogasia Clinic with two sick patients, and the river had other plans.
Heavy rain had turned it into a wall of floodwater. Wegu could not swim across with a patient in her arms. So she asked a drunk man to carry one patient across for $20, and she carried the other herself. Only then could the journey to Kirakira, the provincial capital, carry on.
That was in 2024. Today, Wegu will not cross at night, because in the dark a river can cost lives. When the Warihito River near her clinic runs too wild, some pregnant women and their families stay on the far bank while she stands on the other side and shouts delivery instructions across the floodwaters. There are times, she says, when she simply cannot get across.
Map showing the Warihito and Rawo rivers between Maerongasia Clinic and Kirakira. Map Google Maps, annotated by Joses Saren.
This is ordinary life for the only nurse at Maerongasia Clinic, inland highlands village of Nagau, a clinic that serves nearly 3,000 people. Two rivers shape life here. The Warihito River runs close to the clinic, which sits 50 to 60 metres inland from its bank. It is the first river patients meet on the way to Kirakira. The Rawo River lies farther along the road, closer to Kirakira, and patients must cross it before they can reach the hospital.
The Warihito River seen from above, with the forest of Makira Province around it, photo credit- Joses Saren.
This community can be understood better in terms of selling betel nut. They still sell 5 fruits of Betel Nut for $1.00 and Korokoa likewise.
A lone nurse and a heavy workload
Getting to Maerongasia took this reporter three to four hours from “cut-hill” and turning uphill on rough roads and muddy tracks, past rivers, with very little transport. The clinic lies further inland, upstream along the Warihito River. For the communities around the clinic, that is simply the way to health care.
Wegu has been a nurse for about five years. She spent almost two years at Nararo Clinic before moving to Maerongasia, where she has now worked for about three years. She is the clinic’s only nurse.
Registered nurse Mareta Wegu at Maerongasia Clinic., photo credit-Joses Saren.
The clinic is busy. On Tuesdays, more than 40 children can arrive for child welfare, and each month the clinic handles more than 10 deliveries. “The area has a high number of births,” Wegu says. The inland communities have a cooler climate.
The ward where patients are admitted at Maerongasia Clinic, Photo credit-Joses Saren.
Water is the clinic’s biggest challenge
Ask Wegu what Maerongasia Clinic needs most, and she does not hesitate. It is water.
The clinic has no direct water supply, and its tanks sometimes run dry. Water is needed for almost everything, from washing and cleaning equipment to caring for patients, and most of all when a woman comes in to give birth.
Maerongasia Clinic, photo credit-Joses Saren.
“When giving birth, water is very important,” she says.
When the tanks are empty, the equipment used to care for patients is carried down to the Warihito River to be washed. The tank the clinic uses today was bought with Wegu’s own money.
When rivers block emergency care
For patients who need urgent care, the road to Kirakira runs through rivers. People from remote communities sometimes have to cross or even float through the water to reach the main road, and then find transport to Kirakira.
The journey has cost dearly. Wegu says women in labour have given birth in trucks on the way, and some have given birth on river banks when they could not go on. There have been times when patients died while being transported, she says, because rivers and poor conditions held up their care. When the water is too dangerous, families and health workers are sometimes forced to turn back.
The Warihito River. The clinic is located 50 to 60 metres inland., photo credit-Joses Saren.
Wegu sometimes arranges transport herself and pays for the fuel, including on trips to Kirakira with patients.
Communication and basic infrastructure
Communication has been a problem too. During 2024 and 2025 there was no reliable phone coverage in the area, so nurses walked to spots where a signal could be found. It is still difficult in some places.
Wegu’s own pocket props up much of the clinic. When she first arrived there were no light bulbs and the radio did not work. Her husband rerouted the solar power connected to the radio so it could light the clinic, and Wegu bought the bulbs herself. The clinic relies on a small solar power system and rainwater tanks for basic services.
Solar panels stand in front of Maerongasia Clinic, photo credit- Joses Saren.
Health and education challenges
Wegu names tuberculosis and cough as the biggest health worries in the communities. She believes poor hygiene, limited health education and crowded extended-family households play a part. Malaria is also present, though it is less common in some inland areas.
The clinic’s catchment includes three primary schools, Warhino, Makorigo and Nagao. Some of those children cross rivers to get to school, and heavy rain can make it impossible. Wegu also points to a 2024 education survey that she says counted about 200 children aged five to 10 who were not in school.
Transport remains a lifeline
The clinic once had a Land Cruiser through the constituency, but it broke down and is no longer used. About two years ago, a committee discussed selling it to build a staff house for the nurse.
For Wegu, reliable transport and upgraded road is critical when patients need to be referred to hospital. The long journey turns dangerous when roads are poor, rivers are flooded and vehicles are unavailable. For the nearly 3,000 people in Maerongasia’s catchment, health care can depend on whether the road is passable, the river can be crossed and transport can be found.
Wegu knows what is at stake. In her own words:
“Suppose me no faendim way, patient blo me bae lusim laef.” (If I don’t find a way, my patient loses their life).
*Reporting for this story was supported by Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS)
Photo credit: Joses Saren
For feedback, contact: josessaren@gmail.com
Editor: irwin3angiki@gmail.com
BY DOUGLAS VAHIA
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) has achieved a significant milestone in its national rice research initiative, entering the final field trial stage for two new rice varieties, MAL 1 and MAL 2, ahead of a scheduled harvest next Monday.
A statement from MALD yesterday said the research initiative is being executed in collaboration with agricultural specialists from the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Science (JAAS) in China.
The joint project aims to identify and validate resilient rice strains capable of thriving within the specific environmental and agronomic conditions of the Solomon Islands.
Throughout the evaluation period, MALD technical officers and JAAS experts conducted extensive field operations. These included precise irrigation management, weed and pest control protocols, disease monitoring, and systematic agronomic data collection to track crop growth and overall productivity.
MALD Deputy Secretary Technical, Michael Ho’ota, emphasised that the upcoming harvest is critical to calculate the exact production yield per hectare for both varieties.
“Following harvesting and threshing, the rice will be dried and milled before undergoing taste-testing and quality assessments,” Ho’ota stated.
“These post-harvest tests will provide further information on the quality, characteristics and suitability of the two varieties for local consumption and potential wider cultivation.”
This research framework directly supports the strategic priorities of the GREAT Coalition Government, which focus on enhancing national food security, driving agricultural innovation, expanding domestic food reserves, and creating new economic avenues for local farmers.
MALD officials confirmed that they will maintain strict monitoring protocols through the subsequent drying, milling, and quality-testing phases.
The final data and empirical findings from this trial are expected to guide future policy decisions, resource allocation, and long-term agricultural development planning across the Solomon Islands.
Photo credit: MALD
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Solomon Islands reviews health indicators to simplify reporting, improve data quality and help frontline staff make better decisions. “We need data that helps us see the problem quickly, not reports that take more time to understand,” said Dr Henry Kako, Director, National TB and Leprosy Program. Monthly health summaries should help staff spot when medicines [...]
The post Solomon Islands Reviews Key Health Indicators appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has begun a national review of health indicators and reporting forms to reduce clutter and make routine data easier to use, the World Health Organization said.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and its partners marked World Heart Day in Honiara on 29 September, where an ultrasound machine for echocardiography was handed over by the Australian Government through DFAT.
BY LORETTA B MANELE
Police in Auki, Malaita province have arrested a 30-year-old male suspect for stabbing a 45-year-old male victim with a kitchen knife at Lalana Island in Malaita Province.
A statement from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) this morning said the stabbing incident happened on Thursday, September 24, 2026 and the arrest on Monday, September 28.
RSIPF said from initial reports, the suspect was heavily under the influence of liquor at the time of the stabbing incident.
Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Malaita Province Superintendent Michaeal Ramosaea said Auki police are currently investigating the alleged horrific stabbing incident.
He said the victim was playing ludo under his house when the suspect had violently attacked him with a kitchen knife.
Superintendent Ramosaea said the suspect allegedly cut the victim and stabbed him in the belly, causing him severe wounds.
He said when relatives assisted the victim to the hospital, the suspect had escaped and hid.
The victim is said to be in critical condition.
Superintendent Ramosaea said police officers had attended to the victim at the hospital but were unable to obtain a formal statement due to the severity of his medical condition.
He strongly appeals to relatives of the victim to remain calm and maintain the peace while police actively investigate the matter.
“Community members are urged not to take the law into their own hands,” said RSIPF.
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Minister of Health and Medical Services Hon. Morris Toiraena has called for predictable, multi-year international financing to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
Speaking at the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, the Minister highlighted the particular challenges facing Solomon Islands as a dispersed island nation with a limited health workforce and increasing climate-related health risks.
The Minister said Solomon Islands has strengthened its national preparedness since 2023 by institutionalising its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, establishing national medical assistance teams and expanding disease surveillance into remote provinces.
“These systems were tested during Tropical Cyclone Maila earlier this year, when the Solomon Islands Medical Assistance Team (SolMAT) was rapidly deployed and surveillance systems monitored potential disease risks in displacement sites,” he said.
The Minister also highlighted efforts to integrate climate and health preparedness through the Health-National Adaptation Plan, including digital surveillance, vulnerability assessments and workforce training.
“Solomon Islands welcomed the WHO Pandemic Agreement, amended International Health Regulations and the establishment of the Pandemic Fund, while calling for the swift conclusion of negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing,” he said.
Minister Toiraena urged international partners to provide predictable, pre-positioned support for SIDS.
He stressed that pandemic preparedness cannot depend solely on emergency financing once a crisis has already begun.
The Minister further called for stronger alignment between climate and health financing.
He said pacific countries increasingly face both health emergencies and climate-related disasters simultaneously.
“Health security infrastructure, much like climate infrastructure, cannot be built through fragmented, one-off emergency response cycles,” the Minister said.