New rep for Malaita rural women’s group

VERONICA Mamau has been appointed as the new representative for the Malaita rural women’s association (MRWA). The MRWA works closely with the Malaita provincial government’s women’s division in designing and caring out programs which encouraged women empowerment throughout the entire province. Ms Mamau’s appointment came shortly after the recently held basic cooking and management training…

Community child forum held

SAVE the Children (SC) last week held a community child forum for communities within the Central Kwara’ae region of Malaita province. The forum which was part of Save the Children’s Communities Child Protection Project (CCPP) was aimed at informing and making known to both children and the communities of the issues of concern with regards…

Women completes basic cooking training

SIXTEEN women last week graduated with certificates in basic cooking and business management. This was after they had successfully completed a three day basic cooking and management training organized by the Malaita provincial government for rural based business entrepreneurs. Speaking at the graduation of the sixteen, organizer and Malaita provincial women’s officer, Clara Rikimani called…

New machine to screen cervical cancer here

Cervical cancer is the biggest cause of cancer-related deaths for women in Solomon Islands, according to health authorities. Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr Cedric Alependava revealed this, Thursday. He was speaking at the handing over of an important medical device called “Colposcope” by the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation to the Ministry…

Malaria workers to collect data

A week long training conducted for malaria workers on data collection and slide testing ended, Thursday. The training was part of preparing malaria workers for an indicator survey to be conducted in the provinces. Malaria Vector Borne Disease Programme within the Ministry of Health facilitated the training. More than 60 malaria workers participated in the…

NZ funds new eye care centre here

The New Zealand Government is contributing $3.8 million to the Fred Hollows Foundation to build a new eye clinic in the Solomon Islands. The state-of-the-art centre will double the number of patients that doctors can treat there. Luke Teaman was blind for 20 years because of cataracts. After a 20 minute surgery, his sight was…

Afuga hits back at Mata

FORUM Solomon Islands International chief executive officer Benjamin Afuga has hit back at a response made on the chemical spill issue. General Manager of the Tandai Seafront Hotel, Martin Mata in response to initial reports made by FSII on the issue described the claims as none-sense. But Mr Afuga yesterday said Mr Mata’s response only…

Students thank Miss Solomon

A student of Goldie College says Miss Solomons Tema Wickham is a role model for students, and in particular for girls, at the school. Christopher Lekelalu, a form four student, made the remarks when he delivered his speech during the reopening of the school’s upgraded kitchen recently. He said the new upgraded facility was a…

WHY MALAITA LAGS BEHIND IN DEVELOPMENT

My Column in last Friday’s paper on what vocal Malaitans really want in terms of development drew quite a following. As expected, the social media network, Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII) led the pack in attacking me personally and in some postings, threats were made against me. Of course no one expects anything less nor…