The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), as its part of World Food Day 2024 program has donated food for patients at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) on Thursday at the NRH kitchen.
Minister Franklyn Derek Wasi, at the donation ceremony said, food is a human right, and this year’s World Food Day theme which is “Right to Food for a Better Life and Better Future-Leave No One Behind”, is very fitting and therefore they want to come and support by donating these foods to the sick at the national hospital.
MAL Deputy Secretary Technical, Micheal Ho’ota added that sometimes they tend to forget sick but this year’s theme said, “Leave no one behind and so we came up with this idea of supporting with the donation of these foods.”
NRH Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr George Wilson Malefoasi thanked and acknowledged MAL for donating food for our sick patients.
He said, each year the pressure and demand for food remains high as they are not only feeding the patients but also their guardians.
“Every year we have average of 15, 000 patients. Last year, we had 15, 600 patients, including guardians, thus, the pressure of food is very high here.
“We also have patients with different diets that our dieticians prepare here at the hospital and so feeding them is a very big challenge for us as well.
“For the patients, it’s not just for them to have access to food everyday but also accessing the right food for their diets,” Dr Malefoasi said.
He said the hospital’s spending for food for a year is around SBD 14m and at the end of every year they always have outstanding to pay our suppliers.
He added that this kind of support helps a lot with the stock up and ease down the hospital’s expenses (budget).
The food donated includes: Chickens, fish, kumaras, taros, bananas, watermelons, cabbages (local and Chinese), eggplants, tomatoes, pawpaw, pumpkins, capsicums, spring onions and eggs.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
