China-aided Solomon Islands medical center marks first year of operationBy Shan JieWhen healthcare stays on islandsAt the National Referral Hospital Comprehensive Medical Center in Honiara, waiting areas are frequently full. Some patients come seeking relief from chronic pain. Others have recurring kidney stones. Some are waiting to see specialists in breast surgery, cardiology or neurosurgery. Beyond the consultation rooms, operating theaters, wards and examination areas are meeting a growing share of the Pacific island country's specialist healthcare needs.A year ago, the China-aided center officially began operation. Since then, procedures including coronary angiography and stent implantation, holmium laser lithotripsy, hemodialysis, breast disease treatment and emergency neurosurgery have gradually become available in Honiara, capital of Solomon Islands. "I support China because it saved my life. Otherwise, I would have had to spend half a million on this kind of operation overseas. “Thank you, China," a patient wrote in Solomon Islands Pijin language under a social media post by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services of Solomon Islands about a procedure completed by the Chinese medical team.For that patient, the operation meant avoiding an unaffordable trip abroad for treatment. For the hospital, it showed that more complex care could increasingly remain on the islands.Southwest China's Guizhou Province began sending medical teams to Solomon Islands in 2022. The fourth Chinese medical team arrived in Honiara in March 2025 and witnessed the medical center's official opening that June. The fifth team took over in March 2026, adding neurosurgery and breast surgery to its specialties, Chu Liangzhao, head of the fifth team and a chief physician in neurosurgery, told the Global Times.Over the past year, the fourth and fifth Chinese medical teams recorded 14,600 patient visits and carried out 191 minimally invasive procedures. The figures reflect the center's transition from construction and opening to the gradual establishment of specialist services.After the hospital ship sailed awayWhen Global Times reporters visited Honiara in the summer of 2023, the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark was making its first visit to Solomon Islands.Under blue tents at the port, many residents were already waiting more than an hour before afternoon consultations were due to begin. Some had arrived early for dental appointments. Others came with long-standing eye problems, joint pain or stomach discomfort.Outside the ship's clinics, patients waited at internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology and dentistry departments. During its seven-day stay, Peace Ark treated more than 10,000 local patients and dispatched medical teams to communities, outer islands and the National Referral Hospital for joint consultations and treatment.The visit made the country's medical needs visible. Those needs were not confined to the capital. Scattered islands, difficult transport, limited specialist staff and equipment meant that some patients had to wait for overseas referrals or postpone care under constrained local conditions.After the hospital ship left, those needs remained.Zhao Xueke, head of the fourth Chinese medical team to Solomon Islands, said the opening of the Comprehensive Medical Center provided a platform for techniques that had previously been difficult to perform locally."Many people came with expectations. They were very happy and actively took part," Zhao recalled.Before the center opened, the medical teams had already introduced specialists in cardiology, urology, nephrology and acupuncture. But some services were restricted by a lack of equipment and suitable facilities."For some of the earlier teams, it was difficult to do more without the necessary tools," Zhao said.After the center began operating, changes first emerged through specific treatments.A 3-year-old boy underwent minimally invasive holmium laser surgery for a urethral stone and was discharged the next day. An 18-year-old girl whose breast lump had grown over several years and affected her daily life underwent a small-incision operation performed by a Chinese breast surgeon and local colleagues. She was discharged 24 hours later.This year, the fifth medical team completed the first neurosurgical operation performed by a Chinese medical team in Solomon Islands. A 20-year-old man was admitted after being struck in the head by a stone. Tests showed a crushed occipital bone fracture, and his vital signs deteriorated rapidly. The team organized an emergency operation overnight and completed a seven-hour craniotomy despite limited local instruments and supplies.More than equipmentInside the operating rooms of the Comprehensive Medical Center, local doctors are increasingly working alongside Chinese doctors.In urology, local medical staff members participate in preoperative discussions, surgical assistance and postoperative care. In breast surgery, local doctors have begun gradually performing some routine procedures independently, including needle biopsies and benign lump removals. In neurosurgery, ward rounds, surgical demonstrations and case discussions have become part of training for the new specialty.The work of a medical team cannot end with a single operation, Zhao said. "We truly teach them these medical techniques hand in hand."During the fourth team's assignment, nine Solomon Islands medical professionals traveled to the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University for training in urology, anesthesiology, pathology and emergency medicine. When the fourth team returned to China, it also brought three local doctors for a one-year program in acupuncture, massage, physiotherapy and moxibustion.Chu said the fifth medical team continues to provide on-the-job training through outpatient care and surgery. The extent to which local medical staff participate will determine whether new techniques can truly take root."We hope to leave behind a local medical team that can carry on without us," he said.The growing acceptance of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture offers one example.One resident had relied on crutches because of severe knee pain. Diagnosed with pes anserine bursitis, the patient regained normal mobility after two acupuncture sessions and later sent the medical team a video of the recovery.Zhao said the distinction between a resident medical team and some short-term international medical missions is not simply the number of operations performed. It is whether local doctors can learn alongside visiting specialists and continue the work afterward."Doctors rotate, but techniques must not leave with them," he said.When Peace Ark left Honiara in 2023, local residents said they hoped it would return.The ship has since sailed on to other ports. But at the hospital, consultations continue and operating-room lights still come on. For a growing number of patients, medical care is no longer a rare service arriving from afar. It is becoming an everyday option that stays on the islands.//End//With photo captionsThe National Referral Hospital Comprehensive Medical Center in Honiara, Solomon Islands Photos: Courtesy of Chu LiangzhaoVisitors wait in the waiting area in the National Referral Hospital Comprehensive Medical Center in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
China-aided Solomon Islands medical center marks first year of operationBy Shan JieWhen healthcare stays on islands在霍尼亚拉的国家转诊医院综合医疗中心,候诊区经常人满为患。一些患者前来寻求缓解慢性疼痛。其他人则有反复发作的肾结石。还有一些人在等待乳腺外科、心脏病学或神经外科的专家。在咨询室之外,手术室、病房和检查区域正在满足这片太平洋岛国日益增长的专业医疗需求。一年前,中国援助的中心正式开始运营。自那时起,包括冠状动脉造影和支架植入、霍尔米激光碎石术、血液透析、乳腺疾病治疗和紧急神经外科手术等程序逐渐在所罗门群岛的首都霍尼亚拉提供。“我支持中国,因为它救了我的命。否则,我将不得不花费50万在海外进行这种手术。“谢谢你,中国,”一位患者在所罗门群岛卫生与医疗服务部关于中国医疗团队完成的一项手术的社交媒体帖子下用所罗门群岛皮钦语写道。对这位患者来说,这次手术意味着避免了一次负担不起的海外治疗之旅。对医院而言,这表明越来越复杂的护理可以留在岛上。中国西南部的贵州省于2022年开始向所罗门群岛派遣医疗队。第四支中国医疗队于2025年3月抵达霍尼亚拉,并见证了医疗中心在6月的正式开幕。第五支医疗队于2026年3月接手,增加了神经外科和乳腺外科作为其专业,五队队长、神经外科主任医师楚良钊告诉《环球时报》。在过去的一年里,第四和第五支中国医疗队记录了14,600次患者就诊,并进行了191例微创手术。这些数字反映了该中心从建设和开业到逐步建立专业服务的转变。After the hospital ship sailed away当《环球时报》的记者在2023年夏季访问霍尼亚拉时,中国海军医院船“和平方舟”正在首次访问所罗门群岛。在港口的蓝色帐篷下,许多居民在下午咨询开始前已经等了超过一个小时。一些人提前到达以进行牙科预约。其他人则因长期的眼部问题、关节疼痛或胃部不适而前来。在船上的内科、外科、眼科和牙科诊所外,患者们在等待。在为期七天的停留期间,“和平方舟”治疗了超过10,000名当地患者,并派遣医疗团队前往社区、外岛和国家转诊医院进行联合咨询和治疗。此次访问使该国的医疗需求显现出来。这些需求并不局限于首都。分散的岛屿、交通困难、专业人员和设备有限意味着一些患者不得不等待海外转诊或在当地条件受限的情况下推迟治疗。医院船离开后,这些需求依然存在。第四批赴所罗门群岛的中国医疗队队长赵学科表示,综合医疗中心的开设为以前难以在当地进行的技术提供了平台。“许多人带着期望而来。他们非常高兴,并积极参与,”赵回忆道。在中心开设之前,医疗团队已经引入了心脏病学、泌尿学、肾脏病学和针灸方面的专家。但由于缺乏设备和合适的设施,一些服务受到限制。“对于一些早期的团队来说,没有必要的工具很难做更多,”赵说。在中心开始运营后,变化首先通过具体的治疗显现出来。一名3岁男孩接受了微创的钬激光手术治疗尿道结石,并于次日出院。一名18岁女孩的乳腺肿块在数年间逐渐增大,影响了她的日常生活,接受了一名中国乳腺外科医生和当地同事进行的小切口手术。她在24小时后出院。今年,第五批医疗队完成了所罗门群岛首例由中国医疗队进行的神经外科手术。一名20岁的男子因头部被石头击中而入院。检查显示其枕骨骨折,生命体征迅速恶化。团队组织了紧急手术,尽管当地仪器和物资有限,仍在一夜之间完成了七小时的开颅手术。More than equipment在综合医疗中心的手术室内,当地医生与中国医生的合作日益增多。在泌尿科,当地医务人员参与术前讨论、手术协助和术后护理。在乳腺外科,当地医生已开始逐步独立进行一些常规操作,包括针吸活检和良性肿块切除。在神经外科,查房、手术示范和病例讨论已成为新专业培训的一部分。赵说,医疗团队的工作不能仅仅停留在一次手术上。“我们真正手把手地教他们这些医疗技术。”在第四组的任务期间,九名所罗门群岛的医疗专业人员前往贵州医科大学附属医院接受泌尿科、麻醉学、病理学和急救医学的培训。当第四组返回中国时,还带回了三名当地医生,参加为期一年的针灸、按摩、物理治疗和艾灸项目。楚表示,第五医疗团队继续通过门诊护理和手术提供在职培训。当地医务人员的参与程度将决定新技术是否能真正扎根。“我们希望留下一个能够独立运作的当地医疗团队。”对传统中医和针灸的日益接受就是一个例子。一名居民因严重膝盖疼痛而依赖拐杖。被诊断为鹅足滑囊炎后,患者在两次针灸治疗后恢复了正常的活动能力,并随后向医疗团队发送了恢复的视频。赵表示,常驻医疗团队与一些短期国际医疗任务的区别不仅在于手术数量。而在于当地医生是否能够与来访专家共同学习,并在之后继续工作。“医生会轮换,但技术不能随他们离开。”2023年,当“和平之舟”离开霍尼亚拉时,当地居民表示希望它能回来。这艘船随后驶向其他港口。但在医院,咨询仍在继续,手术室的灯光依然亮起。对于越来越多的患者来说,医疗服务不再是来自遥远地方的稀有服务。它正成为一种日常选择,留在这些岛屿上。
MNN Vodcast Series, WASWE speaks to women on the issues of Sexual Reproductive Health and Mental Wellness. This first episode looks at Malaita and generally to highlight the challenges and successes for rural women.
Scaling up health worker skills to fight diabetic foot disease in Solomon Islands How do you react to a small...
The post The Small Wound That Can Cost a Foot appeared first on In-depth Solomons .
BY JOSES SAREN
THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is seeking nearly $6.8 million in supplementary funding.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into the 2025 Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 yesterday, Acting Permanent Secretary Gregory Jilini said the proposed allocation, is made entirely through an Advance Warrant under Head 09, and totals to $6,777,733.15.
Jilini said the hearing forms part of the process of formally approving spending the Ministry had already incurred in 2025.
He said the advance warrant is made up of four donor contributions: $5,050,000 from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), $1,204,093.15 from the European Union, $77,000 from the Fred Hollows Foundation, and $446,640 from UNICEF.
“This amount includes donor funds to the Ministry of Health in 2025, which were not included in the 2025 Appropriated Budget,” Jilini said.
He explained that the DFAT funding paid for health services grants to 10 provincial health services, three faith-based hospitals — Atoifi, Helena Goldie and Sasamunga — and two schools of nursing at Atoifi and Helena Goldie, under the Solomon Islands–Australia Health Partnership (SIAHP), a four-year program running from 2025 to 2028 that succeeded the Health Sector Support Program (HSSP3).
Jilini said the EU funding covered an outstanding contract payment for the Environmental Health Office in Buala, renovation of the RWASH (Rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) building, a review of the RWASH policy, an outreach programme in three provinces, and sanitation, hygiene and monitoring and evaluation work.
He added that the Fred Hollows Foundation grant funded mass drug administration for trachoma in Guadalcanal Province and Honiara City Council.
The Permanent Secretary went on to state that the UNICEF funding supported Social Welfare Division activities, including eight rounds of social protection consultations in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Western and Temotu provinces, as well as weekly case management visits to Good Samaritan Hospital and Mamara Health Centres.
Peter Shanel Agovaka, Leader of the Independent Group and MP for Central Guadalcanal, raised concerns over the RWASH programme’s reliance on donor funding, noting it had no original budget estimate of its own, and asked how government planned to sustain the programme and what success it had delivered for provincial and church-based hospitals.
Jilini acknowledged that the RWASH programme was heavily dependent on donor support, particularly EU funding, and said the issue had been raised with the committee before.
“This is something we will have to seriously look into,” Jilini said, adding that government “also needs to come in now, instead of depending entirely on our donor partners.”
Opposition Leader Manasseh Sogavare, MP for East Choiseul, asked how the Ministry coordinates the donors funding the health sector, noting many appeared to be funding the same cost centres.
Jilini agreed this was “a fair comment,” saying the Ministry needs to work more closely with all its donor partners to know what each is doing and to avoid duplication or gaps in donor assistance to health.
In his closing remarks, Bosawai said the Ministry needs proper coordination between its donor partners and the Solomon Islands Government, based on his own familiarity with the health budget.
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BY RICHARD MENANOPO
For young mothers attending postnatal check-ups at Good Samaritan Hospital in North Guadalcanal, a recent awareness session provided an opportunity to reflect on their breastfeeding experiences and learn how breast milk can help give their children a healthier start in life.
The mothers were attending their routine postnatal appointments last Wednesday when health workers and development partners took the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week campaign directly to the community.
The awareness was delivered by the Guadalcanal Province Health Division, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Live & Learn and UNICEF, with mothers receiving practical information on breastfeeding practices and the role breast milk plays in protecting babies from illness.
For young mother of two, Edith Kusele, the session was an eye-opening experience that made her reflect on her own breastfeeding practices.
Three-month-old baby Jaycina and her mother Edith Kusele. Edith said she felt guilty because she didn’t follow some of these things mothers should do. Now she’s happy because she learned a lot about the importance of breastfeeding, Photo-Supplied
“Hearing some of the presentations today, as a young mother I feel guilty because I didn’t follow some of these things. I didn’t even seek help from nurses, but now I’m happy because I’ve learned a lot about the importance of breastfeeding,” she said.
UNICEF Nutrition Officer Salome Namohunu told the mothers that breastfeeding is among the most important ways they can give their children a healthy beginning in life.
UNICEF Nutrition Officer Salome Namohunu sharing the importance of breastfeeding to mothers during the launch, Photo- Supplied
“Breastfeeding ensures that every baby receives the best start in life. Breastfeeding is the best and safe natural food for babies, and it is readily available,” Namohunu said.
She stressed the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a baby’s life, saying breast milk provides the nutrition and protection needed for babies to grow strong and healthy.
Namohunu also encouraged mothers to see breastfeeding as more than simply a way of feeding their babies, describing it as an early form of protection against illness.
“Breastfeeding is more than a feeding choice. The choice to breastfeed your child is a powerful act of love and the first child protection you can give your child against all forms of sickness,” she said.
She urged mothers to begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after giving birth, particularly during the first 24 hours.
Health Promotion Officer with the Guadalcanal Province Health Division, Smith Neremola, said bringing the campaign to the community was important to ensure mothers could access information close to where they live and receive health services.
“In celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, we would like to come down to the community level purposely to share information on the importance of breastfeeding,” Neremola said.
Some of the mothers attending the launch of World Breastfeeding Week celebration, Photo- Supplied
He said the awareness covered breastfeeding during the first 24 hours after birth, exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months and how mothers could continue breastfeeding during emergencies and disasters.
Mother and teacher Caroline Matangani said awareness programmes are important because some mothers may not have adequate information about appropriate feeding practices.
She said mothers are often a baby’s first point of contact and therefore have an important role to ensure their children are properly fed and cared for.
“Awareness like this is very important to teach these mothers so that they know the importance of breastfeeding and feed their children,” Matangani said.
The 2026 World Breastfeeding Week is being observed under the theme, ‘Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works’.
The campaign forms part of broader efforts by health authorities and partners to strengthen community understanding of breastfeeding and promote practices that support child survival, growth and development.
This year’s World Breastfeeding Week activities are supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), with the campaign also focusing on helping mothers breastfeed during the critical early period after birth and in challenging situations, including emergencies and disasters.
Photos: Supplied
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
THE Western Province Health and Medical Services is reviewing its provincial health service plan to identify gaps in service delivery and develop a more practical plan for the coming years.
Heads of health sectors, nurses, doctors and other key stakeholders gathered in Gizo this week for a conference that aims to review the province’s existing health service plan.
Director of Western Province Health and Medical Services, Dr Dickson Boara, said the conference provides an opportunity to assess what has been achieved, identify weaknesses and determine how existing challenges can be addressed.
He said the review intends to produce a new workplan that is realistic, practical and easy to implement once adopted as an official provincial health document.
“So, this week, we are looking back to what we did in 2024, 2025 and first quarter of 2026. We check every box to see our weakness and our strength,” Boara said.
He said the review is not limited to health workers, with other stakeholders also invited to contribute ideas and identify areas where they can support the delivery of health services across the province.
“This is why we bring in everyone including other stakeholders who can support us to deliver services,” Boara said.
He said the conference is also important for financial planning, as the outcomes will help the province prepare its health budget and identify priority areas that require funding.
Boara said the province will use the information gathered during the review to put together a budget document for submission to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) as it considers the next round of budget allocations.
He said the review comes as the province continues to face challenges in delivering health services across its widely dispersed communities and islands.
Boara said having a practical and properly costed health plan will help ensure limited resources are directed towards the province’s most pressing health needs.
The conference is expected to provide a clearer picture of the province’s health priorities and the resources required to improve service delivery.
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
DIABETES has become one of the major health issues putting increasing pressure on health services in Western Province.
Director of Western Province Health and Medical Services, Dr Dickson Boara, said diabetic cases in the province have increased at an alarming rate, placing additional pressure on health facilities, health workers and limited resources.
He said the growing number of diabetes cases is becoming a serious concern for the province’s health system.
Boara attributed the increase partly to uncontrolled diets and the growing availability of junk food in local shops and communities.
“I think, we need to work extra hard in terms of awareness in communities. Health workers need to go down to the communities to do awareness,” he said.
Boara said the province will not rely solely on clinical services to deal with the growing burden of diabetes.
He said greater emphasis must be placed on prevention, early awareness and on encouraging people to adopt healthier lifestyles before they develop serious health complications.
According to Boara, the diabetes issue will be incorporated into Western Province’s new health work plan, with increased attention given to community awareness and preventive health programmes.
He said taking health information directly to communities will be important to help people understand the risks associated with unhealthy diets and lifestyles.
Boara said the planned approach is expected to place greater responsibility on health workers to engage communities outside health facilities, particularly in raising awareness about diet, nutrition and the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases.
He said addressing diabetes early is important as the continued increase in cases could further stretch the province’s already limited health resources.
The province’s move to strengthen preventive health comes as Western Province reviews its existing health service plan, with health sector heads, nurses, doctors and other stakeholders meeting in Gizo this week to identify key health priorities and improve service delivery across the province.
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‘I feel guilty, but I’ve learned’
North Guadalcanal mothers discover the power of breastfeeding
For young mothers gathered at Good Samaritan Hospital in North Guadalcanal, World Breastfeeding Week became more than a celebration. It was an opportunity to learn, reflect and better understand how breastfeeding can give their children a healthier start in life.
Mothers attending postnatal check-ups at Good Samaritan Hospital Wednesday last week were given practical information on the importance of breastfeeding as health workers and partners took the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week campaign directly to the community.
A team from the Guadalcanal Province Health Division, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Live & Learn and UNICEF used the occasion to engage with mothers who turned out in numbers for their postnatal appointments, sharing information on breastfeeding practices and the role breast milk plays in protecting children from illness.
For Edith Kusele, a young mother of two, the awareness was an eye-opening experience.
“Hearing some of the presentations today, as a young mother I feel guilty because I didn’t follow some of these things. I didn’t even seek help from nurses, but now I’m happy because I’ve learned a lot about the importance of breastfeeding,” she said.
UNICEF Nutrition Officer Salome Namohunu told mothers that breastfeeding is one of the most important ways they can give their children a healthy start in life.
“Breastfeeding ensures that every baby receives the best start in life. Breastfeeding is the best and safe natural food for babies, and it is readily available,” she said.
Namohunu highlighted the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a baby's life, explaining that breast milk provides the nutrition and protection babies need to grow strong and healthy.
She also stressed that breastfeeding should be viewed as more than simply a feeding choice.
“Breastfeeding is more than a feeding choice. The choice to breastfeed your child is a powerful act of love and the first child protection you can give your child against all forms of sickness,” Namohunu said.
She urged mothers to begin breastfeeding as soon as possible after birth, particularly during the first critical 24 hours.
Health Promotion Officer with Guadalcanal Province Health Division, Smith Neremola, said the campaign was deliberately taken to the community so mothers could access information where they live and receive services.
“In celebrating World Breastfeeding Week, we would like to come down to the community level purposely to share information on the importance of breastfeeding,” Neremola said.
He said the awareness covered breastfeeding during the first 24 hours after birth, the first six months of a child's life and how mothers can continue breastfeeding during emergencies and disasters.
The sessions also provided mothers with an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences.
Mother and teacher Caroline Matangani said awareness programmes such as the one held at Good Samaritan Hospital are important because some mothers may lack information about appropriate feeding practices.
She said mothers are often a baby's first point of contact and have an important responsibility to ensure their children are properly fed and cared for.
“Awareness like this is very important to teach these mothers so that they know the importance of breastfeeding and feed their children,” Matangani said.
The 2026 World Breastfeeding Week comes with the theme, ‘Breastfeeding for a sustainable start in life: strengthen what works.’ It forms part of broader efforts by health authorities and partners to strengthen community understanding of breastfeeding and encourage practices that support child survival, growth and development. World Breastfeeding week celebration this year is supported by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The campaign also aims to ensure mothers are better prepared to breastfeed in the critical early period after birth and during challenging circumstances, including disasters.
For the mothers who gathered at Good Samaritan Hospital, the message was clear: breastfeeding is not simply about feeding a baby—it is one of the earliest and most powerful ways a mother can protect her child.
ENDS///
BY CHARLES STENNETT
Solomon Islands Media Fraternity will miss one its veteran member and a pioneer in independent media, George Atkin Aeta’i, who passed on in his home village, Tawatana, Makira-Ulawa province this morning.
The late Atkin was a veteran journalist in Solomon Islands, having worked in various mainstream media outlets in Solomon Islands such as the Solomon Star Newspaper, Island Sun Newspaper and the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, SIBC.
He pioneered the establishment of private and independent newspapers starting off with the Kiokio Nius followed by the Melanesian Nius weeklies which were short lived.
His third attempt was the Solomon Toktok Newspaper which he established in 1977, a year before the country’s independence in 1978 until it stopped its publications in March 1992.
In his earlier years he explained why he changed the names of his publication and settled with Solomon Toktok Newspaper.
“I chose the name Kiokio, a coastal kingfisher because the bird relay messages.
This evolved into Melanesia Nius, to cover the Melanesian group countries in the South Pacific as it was becoming a regional bloc to be reckoned with in the 970s. Fiji and Papua New Guinea had become independent while Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were in the process of gaining independence from their colonial rulers. But the scope was too wide for me to cover and so I decided to drop that name and focus on just the one country, my own. I founded Solomon Toktok,” Late Atkin recalled.
Late Atkin single-handedly ran Solomon Toktok, collecting and writing stories, soliciting for advertisement, delivering papers, taking photographs, administering accounts and banking, newspaper wrapping, paste-ups or lay-out, a job he hated most.
He did all these task as trial and error because his training background was on broadcast journalism.
The task was not easy and had to turn to others for help like the late Ashley Wickham and the late Welshman Teilo.
He had to recruit and train staff to fill the many roles the young paper was emerging into like the recruitment of his wife, a nurse by profession as the chief reporter.
The hardship of managing a new newspaper with a different perspective of being independent had its many difficulties, the late Atkin had to endure.
They include, lack of government support as it was viewed then as confronting for politicians, scarcity of people with professional media experience, high overhead costs as there were no computers then, insufficient revenue from advertising, subscriptions and sales, the lack of a chief reporter and the lack of news reporters and graphic artist workers who worked long hours with small salaries.
Despite the hardships, Late Atkin explored all avenues available to him to keep the paper running by sending cadet reporters for overseas training, securing a loan to buy printing machines, in-laws assist in funding a dedicated building for the paper to cut office rent and friends to do marketing.
The many challenges took a toll on him including his marriage.
“The effort needed to establish and sustain a business in such a challenging environment took its toll. I was exhausted and my marriage did not survive the journey.
After my family relocated to New Zealand, I stayed on and tried to keep Solomon Toktok for another eight years and with the competition with another emerging Newspaper, the Solomon Star, I finally decided to close down Solomon Toktok in March 1992 and rejoined the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, SIBC” late Atkin recalled.
But the impacts of independent media, pioneered by journalists like late Atkin had some effects in the region.
Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu followed on from the footsteps of Solomon Toktok with journalists setting up independent newspapers, as their countries’ governments like Solomon Islands in those days operated broadcast services and published information services publications.
In his line of service to media in Solomon Islands, Late Atkin was the first President of the Media Association of Solomon Islands, MASI from 1985–1989.
After the closure of Solomon Toktok, late Atkin worked with the mainstream media outlets in Solomon Islands like the Solomon Star, Island Sun and SIBC, and was the freelance reporter for AFP and wrote stories for Radio New Zealand International and Radio Australia and had been a political appointee.
He returned to his home province, Makira-Ulawa in the early 2020s and stayed home until his passing on the 11 th of August 2026 from a short illness.
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BY NED GAGAHE
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has questioned the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) over its proposed $7.89 million supplementary appropriation, including more than $5 million in advance warrants involving donor-funded programmes.
The issue was raised during the PAC hearing on Monday 7 on the Ministry’s 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Bill.
PAC Chair Dr Paul Bosawai said the Bill before the Committee sought a total of $7,896,483.35, divided into two components—advance warrants for donor-funded projects and additional recurrent supplementary expenditure for national programmes and disaster recovery.
Acting Permanent Secretary of MHMS Dr Gregory Jilini explained that the advance warrants totaled $5,096,483.35.
He said the advance warrants covered six areas, including unused HSSP3 funds, medical laboratory support, unused UNICEF funding, WASH training, a Global Fund project and funding for the Helena Goldie Hospital incinerator.
Dr Jilini said $48,825.35 in unused HSSP3 funds from 2025 was being returned to DFAT in accordance with the funding agreement.
He explained that the HSSP3 programme ended in September 2025 and the Ministry was unable to use the remaining funds before the programme deadline.
MHMS Financial Controller Jacob Akao added that HSSP3 was a funding agreement between the Ministry and DFAT that provided grants to provinces over three years.
He said the remaining balance had to be returned at the end of the programme, while the Ministry had since signed a new agreement with DFAT which commenced earlier this year.
The Ministry also revealed that $1,104,140 in unused UNICEF funding from 2025 was being returned.
Dr Jilini said the funding was intended for the Reproductive Health and Child Health Division, but the funds were not fully utilised because other funding sources were available for the division’s activities.
He said the approaching end of the funding period also meant the Ministry could not utilise the remaining funds.
MP for Gizo-Kolombangara Jimson Tanangada questioned why UNICEF funding continued to have balances and whether the Ministry was restricted from using the funds for other urgent priorities.
Mr Akao said UNICEF funding normally came with a specific timeframe for implementation.
He said UNICEF funding could sometimes have a period of only three months for activities to be implemented, and funds that could not be used within the timeframe had to be returned.
Mr Tanangada then questioned whether the Ministry had plans to improve its implementation framework to ensure donor funding was fully utilised.
He asked what measures were being taken to prevent funds from remaining unused and subsequently being returned to donors.
Deputy Secretary Corporate Services Layten Jacob said the Ministry needs to strengthen its systems for managing donor funding.
He said the Ministry needs to have clear plans and priorities in place when donor funds come into the system.
“In some cases, when donors put their funds into the Ministry, there are specific areas where they would like the funds to be directed,” Mr Jacob said.
He said the Ministry needs to strengthen its capacity to utilise funding, particularly because it was receiving support from numerous development partners.
Mr Jacob said one of the key areas that require improvement is in ensuring that donor funds come through the government system and are incorporated through appropriation and the national budget.
Meanwhile, the Ministry’s additional supplementary expenditure amounts to $2.8 million.
Of this amount, $800,000 is allocated for post-Cyclone Maila disaster recovery support at Helena Goldie Hospital, while $2 million is allocated to support probationary nurses, including their provincial travel and allowances.
Dr Bosawai reminded the Ministry that the PAC hearing was being conducted under Parliament’s procedures and that officials were protected by parliamentary privilege when giving evidence.
He also said the Ministry’s next Appropriation Bill should provide greater detail on its policy direction and priorities.
The PAC is continuing its scrutiny of supplementary funding requests before the matter proceeds through the parliamentary budget process.
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BY NED GAGAHE
The availability of essential medical supplies in the country is currently above 80 percent, with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) putting the figure at around 83 percent.
This was revealed during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing yesterday when PAC Chair Dr Paul Bosawai questioned the Ministry about the current status of essential drugs and medical supplies.
Dr Bosawai, a former Minister of Health, asked the Ministry whether its supply chain remained stable and what the current availability of essential drugs was.
In response, the Ministry confirmed that the availability of essential supplies was still above 80 percent, at around 83 percent.
Dr Bosawai urged the Ministry to improve the figure, calling for availability to be lifted to around 90 percent.
“Move it up, move it up to around 90,” Dr Bosawai told the Ministry.
He said the long-term aim should be to achieve almost 100 percent availability of essential medical supplies.
The PAC Chair also encouraged the Ministry to strengthen its management of donor-funded programmes, particularly funding that is managed outside the normal government budget system.
He warned that when funding remains outside the system, the Ministry has less control over how the money is managed and implemented.
Dr Bosawai further commended the Ministry for its work in registering nurses and recognised the support provided for probationary nurse training.
He described nurses as the “foot soldiers” of health service delivery and called on the Ministry to increase the nursing workforce and strengthen recognition of nurses across the country.
He also urged the Ministry to engage with the current Minister of Health and the Government to improve the nursing cadre.
Dr Bosawai welcomed the reintroduction of medical studies leading to MBBS qualifications through the Ministry of Education, saying he was pleased that previous work in the area was being continued and implemented.
The PAC Chair said the Ministry of Health is an essential ministry because it provides services that directly affect the lives of people throughout Solomon Islands.
He commended the Ministry’s work and said the Committee expects the Ministry’s next Appropriation Bill to provide greater detail and demonstrate its policy direction.
The PAC hearing was held to scrutinise the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ 2026 supplementary budget and its proposed expenditure.
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BY NED GAGAHE
CENTRAL Guadalcanal MP and Leader of the Independent Office, Peter Shanel Agovaka, has strongly rejected the Government’s proposed sites for a new cemetery and waste disposal facility in the Tenaru-Lungga area.
Agovaka made the statement during debate on the motion to thank the Governor General’s Speech from the Throne last week, expressing concern that the proposals had been announced before meaningful consultation with customary landowners and affected communities.
He said the Ministry of Home Affairs had brought a Cabinet Paper on a proposed new cemetery, while another Cabinet Paper concerns a new waste disposal site in the vicinity of Teteni-Kolivuti.
Both proposals are understood to involve land in the Tenaru-Lungga area of Central Guadalcanal.
Agovaka said land is fundamental to the identity, livelihood, wellbeing and future of the people of Central Guadalcanal.
He said that any proposal to use customary or community land for major public facilities must respect the rights of landowners and be preceded by genuine consultation.
“The Government cannot make decisions about our people’s land and expect landowners to simply accept them,” Agovaka said.
“Landowners and affected communities must be consulted before any decision is made or announcement is issued.”
He stressed that communities should first learn about projects of such significance through government announcements instead of being directly engaged by authorities.
Agovaka said the proposed facilities are not minor developments, given that they will determine where Honiara residents bury their loved ones and where waste generated by the capital city will be disposed of.
He warns that the projects can have serious implications for public health, the environment, water sources, food gardens and future generations.
The Central Guadalcanal MP also raised concerns about the geography and drainage patterns of the proposed sites, saying runoff and possible contamination could affect surrounding communities, gardens and waterways.
“Central Guadalcanal cannot support projects that will create long-term environmental and public-health risks for national projects it hosts and especially its people,” he said.
“It should not be treated as a dumping ground for the waste of Honiara, nor should our communities be expected to carry environmental consequences without having a meaningful say.”
However, Agovaka stressed that his opposition should not be interpreted as opposition to national development.
“We support development, but development must be responsible, properly consulted and fair. It must respect landowners, protect communities and consider the long-term environmental and health consequences,” he said.
“Development cannot simply mean placing difficult or undesirable facilities in one location because it is convenient for others.”
Agovaka also questioned the continued concentration of major facilities and activities serving Honiara and the wider national population in Central Guadalcanal.
He said Central Guadalcanal makes a significant contribution to the national economy by providing land, food and other resources that sustain Honiara and the country.
“Our people provide land, food and resources that sustain Honiara and the country. We contribute to the national purse and help feed this nation,” he said.
He calls on the Government to take a broader and more balanced approach when deciding where major public facilities should be located.
Agovaka urges the Government to consider alternative locations in other provinces, particularly for facilities intended to serve the wider national population.
“Our position is clear: Central Guadalcanal rejects these proposals in their current form. Take these projects back to the drawing board. Consider alternative locations elsewhere in the country,” he said.
He warned that the people of Central Guadalcanal will not remain silent over decisions affecting their land, environment and future without their participation.
“National development must be inclusive and responsible. The Government must listen to the people and respect customary landowners. Central Guadalcanal has contributed enough to the development of this country. Its land, environment and communities will no longer be sacrificed for the convenience of others,” Agovaka said.
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BY NED GAGAHE
THE Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) has confirmed that a $1.3 million medical assessment allocation in its 2026 supplementary budget is specifically for Members of Parliament (MPs).
The clarification was made by Secretary to the Prime Minister (SPM) Dr Melchoir Mataki during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into the 2026 Supplementary Bill today.
PAC Chairman Dr Paul Bosawai questioned the allocation, pointing out that MPs already have medical entitlements under the Parliamentary Entitlement Committee.
He also noted that the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has a separate budget for medical referrals.
Dr Bosawai therefore sought clarification on who the $1.3 million allocation was intended for, asking whether it was for officials within the Prime Minister’s Office or MPs who are part of the Government.
Dr Mataki confirmed that the allocation was for MPs.
“This head has been a standing head under OPMC and it’s for members of Parliament,” Dr Mataki told the Committee.
The confirmation means the $1.3 million allocation is not intended for OPMC staff, but specifically covers medical assessment for Members of Parliament.
The medical allocation forms part of OPMC’s additional recurrent expenditure under the 2026 Supplementary Bill, which is seeking a total supplementary allocation of about $30.9 million.
The PAC is scrutinising the proposed expenditure as part of its inquiry into the Supplementary Bill before it proceeds through Parliament.
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
AFTER years of complaints and mounting concerns over the condition of Helena Goldie Hospital, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has finally begun engaging with the hospital’s leadership to address some of its longstanding problems.
The development follows a series of reports by Island Sun exposing serious challenges at the hospital, including the failure of its X-ray facility and an Emergency Operation Theatre that has failed to provide the services expected of it.
For years, these problems have raised serious questions about the level of health services available to people in rural Western Province and the response from authorities responsible for ensuring that provincial hospitals are properly equipped and maintained.
Superintendent of Helena Goldie Hospital, Raymond Dickson, has been vocal about the challenges facing the hospital, including what he described as negligence that has contributed to problems accumulating over the years.
His concerns, published by Island Sun, have now reached the executive level of the national health ministry.
Speaking to Island Sun yesterday, Dickson confirmed that MHMS is now communicating with Helena Goldie Hospital over the issues raised.
“At this point, the issues are now at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Executive level,” he said.
Dickson said the hospital had received positive news from MHMS, signalling a possible shift towards addressing problems that have remained unresolved for years.
The engagement comes after Island Sun brought the hospital’s challenges into the public domain, raising questions over why critical health infrastructure and equipment have been allowed to remain dysfunctional while rural communities continue to depend on the facility.
The failure of an X-ray service, in particular, is not simply an infrastructure issue. It can directly affect diagnosis and treatment, forcing patients to face additional delays, costs and, in some cases, travel to Gizo Hospital to access services that should be available closer to home.
Similarly, concerns surrounding the Emergency Operation Theatre raise broader questions about the capacity of the hospital to respond to patients requiring urgent medical intervention.
For rural communities, the consequences of such failures can be far more serious than inconvenience.
Helena Goldie Hospital serves communities that have limited access to alternative health facilities, making the reliability of its essential services a matter of public importance.
Dickson welcomed the ministry’s engagement and acknowledged Island Sun for continuing to report the concerns raised by the hospital.
He said the newspaper had played an important role in standing up for people whose concerns are often overlooked.
The latest development now places responsibility firmly with MHMS to demonstrate that its engagement will lead to concrete action.
For the people relying on Helena Goldie Hospital, the expectation is no longer simply for promises or discussions, but for functioning facilities, reliable equipment and health services that meet the needs of rural communities.
The hospital’s problems may have taken years to surface publicly, but the latest response from MHMS provides an opportunity to finally address them.
Photo: Helena Goldie Hospital’s X-ray facility. Photo supplied.
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Solomon Islands health workers strengthen diabetic foot care skills to improve early treatment and help prevent amputations How do you react to a small blister or a cut on your foot? You’ll probably ignore it or even see it as a minor inconvenience. But if you’re a person living with diabetes, that small blister or [...]
The post Health Workers Strengthen Skills To Save Limbs appeared first on Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) .
BY JOSES SAREN
A memorial liturgy was held last Saturday at St Andrew’s Church, Ghaobata Parish, Red Beach Community. It honoured the 64 people who disappeared aboard the RCS Melanesia on 10 July 1958.
The service was prepared by the Anglican Church of Melanesia specifically for the Red Beach Community. Fr. Eric Tevaiola officiated.
Family members laid wreaths as part of the committal prayers. Serving seafarers, in uniform, also attended and observed one minute of silence during the formal proceedings, standing at attention before the altar with heads bowed as Fr. Eric led the liturgy.
Three speakers addressed those gathered.
Fr. Eric, in his sermon, described the Melanesia’s loss as a mystery. It was never established whether the ship capsized, was hijacked, or met some other fate.
Justice belonged to God alone, he said. God would bring it in His own time.
Chief Elder Duke Telaupa, who has researched the ship’s history, detailed the known facts. The vessel was built by the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company and launched in Kowloon on 10 July 1956.
It arrived in the Solomon Islands that December. Exactly two years later, on 10 July 1958, it vanished.
Its last radio report came at 9am, about 25 miles west of Sikaiana. Seven ships and Australian aircraft joined the search.
Searchers recovered debris, life floats, and a single body. It was that of boatswain David Daiwo of the Reef Islands, who washed ashore at Maanawai.
The body was so badly decomposed it could only be identified by a tattoo. A Commission of Inquiry sat in 1958–59 but reached no conclusive findings.
Telaupa said he has confirmed around 30 of the 64 names so far. He called for an annual commemoration every 10 July.
He appealed to families, relatives and friends who may know of others who were aboard the Melanesia to come forward. Their information would help complete the passenger list, he said.
Former captain Elijah Mouku gave a personal account. As a boy in 1958, he sighted the Melanesia off Lunga shortly before it disappeared, a memory that stayed with him.
RCS stood for Resident Commissioner’s Ship, he said. Its passengers and crew represented all four of the protectorate’s administrative districts.
Mouku recalled that musician Fred Maedola served aboard the Melanesia as a radio operator before disembarking in Honiara. Maedola later composed a memorial song about the loss.
The song was so emotionally overwhelming that the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation withdrew it from airplay, Mouku said.
The government organised memorial services in 1959 and 1960, Mouku said. It provided transport for victims’ families to gather at Gorobao.
There have been public calls over the years for deeper investigation. Commissioner of Oath Jones Sanga has urged families to form a taskforce to pursue compensation claims.
No definitive cause was ever established.
The Melanesia’s loss left the Protectorate critically short of shipping. It was compounded days later by the wreck of the Medical Department’s 66-foot vessel Betua, on a reef near Maanawai Harbour on 14 July.
A temporary replacement was borrowed from the Royal Navy base in Hong Kong. An 18-metre memorial light was erected in early 1963 on Rua Sura Island off Guadalcanal, facing the reefs and deep waters around Sikaiana.
A commemorative postage stamp followed in 1975.
Mouku closed by saying the loss remained a solemn chapter in the country’s history. It deserved to be honoured, he said, particularly on National Seafarers’ Day.
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PM Matthew Wale commits to advancing the Guadalcanal Provincial Hospital with government agencies and development partners PRIME Minister Hon. Matthew Wale has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing the proposed Guadalcanal Provincial Hospital, signalling concrete action in response to the needs of the province. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, the Prime Minister said Government will work [...]
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Prime Minister Hon. Matthew Wale has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing the proposed Guadalcanal Provincial Hospital, signalling concrete action in response to the needs of the province.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, the Prime Minister said the Government will work closely with development partners to deliver the project in a practical and coordinated manner.
“The Government working closely with our donor partners will deliver as appropriately as we can in building the Guadalcanal Province Provincial Hospital,” he said.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the project responds directly to the request made by the Premier of Guadalcanal Province during the province’s Second Appointed Day celebrations.
He outlined a whole-of-government approach to progressing the initiative, led through the Social Sector under the Prime Minister’s Political Division in the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Prime Minister Wale said this will involve close coordination with Guadalcanal Province, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, the Ministry of National Planning and Development Coordination and other relevant government agencies.
He said work will begin on the necessary groundwork, including the development of a concept paper to be submitted to the Caucus and Cabinet for consideration as soon as possible.
“That is how this Government answers a province,” the Prime Minister said.
“Not with ceremony but with commitment.”
The Prime Minister emphasised its focus on delivering essential health infrastructure and improving access to quality medical services for communities across Guadalcanal Province.
[end]
OPMC statement
The post Gov’t commits to progress Guadalcanal Provincial Hospital Project: PM Wale first appeared on Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) .
Health Minister Morris Toiraena prioritises primary health care and upgrades to clinics, hospitals and referral services Health Minister Hon. Morris Toiraena says the Ministry will place primary health care at the forefront of its efforts, in his speech in response to the Throne of Parliament yesterday.& He highlighted, for many people, the first contact with [...]
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BY LORETTA B MANELE
The GREAT Coalition Government has made its intention of establishing new cocoa and coconut plantations across the country.
Agriculture Minister, Franklyn Wasi shed light on this whilst delivering his response to the Speech from the Throne in parliament on Wednesday.
He said traditional cash crops like cocoa and coconut remain among our most important agricultural export commodities.
“The GREAT Coalition Government intends to support the establishment of new cocoa and coconut plantations across the country while also rehabilitating aging plantations through improved planting materials, farmer support programmes and better pest and disease management,” he said.
Wasi said the Government will also continue to expand nurseries, drying facilities and storage infrastructure to improve product quality and increase farmer incomes.
The Member of Parliament for East Makira said these measures will strengthen Solomon Islands competitiveness in international markets while creating sustainable economic opportunities for rural communities.
Wasi said the target is to reach 10,000 hectares of new planted cocoa and coconut trees across the whole nation in the coming years.
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BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The GREAT Government has said it will bring the Mental Health Bill for passage in parliament.
This Bill is set to replace the current legislation, Mental Treatment Act, which was enacted in 1970.
Along the years, consecutive governments have promised to replace the 1970 act. Sikua’s government in 2009 recognised that the Mental Treatment Act was “badly outdated” and required urgent redrafting into a modernised Mental Health Bill.
Major milestone was achieved by the DCGA government under prime minister Manasseh Sogavare which launched the Mental Health Policy on July 27, 2023.
GREAT is determined to go another step further with the Mental Health Bill.
Health Minister Morris Toiraena, contributing yesterday (Thursday, August 6, 2026) to the motion of thanks to the Governor General’s speech from the throne said the Mental Health Bill is among the two Health bills GREAT will bring to parliament.
“The Government will also progress several health legislations which include the Health Service Bill, Amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act, Amendments to the Pure Food Act and a new Mental Bill before this Honourable House. These reforms will help provide a stronger legal and institutional basis for the work ahead,” Toiraena said.
Toiraena said mental health can no longer be allowed to be a culturally sensitive issue on which people refrain open dialogue and solution seeking.
“Many Solomon Islanders live with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance-related illness and other mental health conditions without adequate support. Families often carry this burden alone. Stigma keeps people silent, and services remain limited.
“The Government will confront mental health openly and with compassion. We will work towards mental health facilities and services in every province, strengthen training for health workers, support community-based care, and improve referral pathways for people in crisis.
“The planned relocation of the National Psychiatric Unit to Honiara is part of this commitment to provide more appropriate, accessible and dignified care.
“Mental health is health. It deserves the same seriousness as any other condition,” Toiraena said.
The national psychiatric unit is based in the Kilu’ufi hospital, Auki, Malaita province.
However, in January this year the idea to have it relocated was established driven by factors such as logistical barriers to referral cases from other provinces to reach Kilu’ufi.
The architectural and planning phases are underway. The physical transition to the National Referral Hospital is expected to finish by the end of 2026.
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Government Unveils Plans to Strengthen Solomon Islands Health System
The Government has outlined a broad health reform agenda aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services for all Solomon Islanders.
Responding to the Speech from the Throne, the Minister of Health and Medical Services said the Government’s priority is to achieve universal health coverage by strengthening health facilities, improving medicine supplies, and expanding essential services across the country.
The Minister highlighted plans to rehabilitate closed rural clinics, upgrade Area Health Centres, and strengthen provincial hospitals so more patients can receive care closer to their homes. The Government also aims to improve referral services at the National Referral Hospital and enhance specialist healthcare capacity.
A key focus will be ensuring reliable access to essential medicines and medical supplies through improved procurement, storage, distribution and monitoring systems.
The Government will also invest in prevention programmes, including immunisation, nutrition, maternal and child health, mental health services, and efforts to eliminate malaria by 2038.
The Minister said strengthening the health workforce remains critical, with plans to support training, professional development and incentives for health workers serving in rural and remote communities.
Digital health development, emergency preparedness, and stronger public health laboratory services are also part of the reform agenda as the Government works to build a more responsive and resilient health system.
The Minister acknowledged the challenges facing healthcare delivery, including geography, infrastructure and limited resources, but said these challenges would not prevent the Government from improving health services for the people of Solomon Islands.
ENDS/////////
Home Affairs Minister calls for
improvement to City’s Governance
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
Minister for Home Affairs Fr Manasseh Maelanga has pleaded for urgent reforms to restore order and improve governance in Honiara, saying the current state of the nation's capital is deeply concerning and requires a coordinated response from all levels of government.
Speaking in parliament, Thursday in response to the Traditional Speech from the Throne, Maelanga said the Government's review of the Honiara City Act presents an opportunity to modernise the city's governance and address the growing challenges facing the capital.
"The review of the Honiara City Act presents an opportunity to modernise the governance arrangements of our national capital so that it reflect the realities of rapid urban growth, increasing service demands and future development," he said.
Maelanga said the conditions residents face every day are unacceptable for the country's capital.
"What the residents of Honiara City are experiencing today is deeply concerning. As the national capital and the face of our country, Honiara should reflect the aspirations, pride and progress of Solomon Islands."
Instead, he said, many residents deal daily with poor sanitation, unmanaged waste, ageing public facilities and deteriorating infrastructure.
"The city is increasingly characterised by poor sanitation, unmanaged waste, deteriorating public infrastructure and ageing public facilities that are struggling to meet the demands of a rapidly growing urban population."
The Minister also highlighted that traffic congestion, poor road conditions, inadequate drainage, poorly maintained public spaces and limited municipal services have failed to keep pace with the city's rapid growth.
"These challenges are not merely aesthetic; they have direct implications for public health, economic productivity, environmental sustainability and public safety," he said.
//end//
