Atoifi Hospital operated by the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church in East Kwaio, Malaita Province has taken delivery of a new 3-ton vehicle this week.
The vehicle is last of 8 vehicles funded and procured last year by the World Bank Project Management Unit within the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and have since been distributed to various Provincial Hospitals.
The new vehicle is in addition to a Landcruiser vehicle and a speed boat funded and delivered under the project last year.
The vehicle will be used to manage medical and clinical waste and will also be used to move much needed medication and supplies from the Provincial capital, Auki to the Hospital.
Atoifi Adventist Hospital was established by the Seventh day Adventist Trans Pacific Union Mission in 1966 in East Kwaio, overlooking Uru Harbour.
It is the only hospital owned by the church in the Pacific region and currently serves up to around 80,000 people from the immediate and surrounding communities.
Handing over the vehicle at the MHMS Headquarters, Permanent Secretary Mrs Pauline McNeil said on Wednesday the handover was is an emphasis on the National Government’s and donor commitment to the provision of health services to remote and hard to reach areas and locations.
“The vehicle handover is another example of the National government’s commitment, working alongside the World Bank, to strengthening the delivery of health services in rural and remote areas. It is also a manifestation of our commitment to assist health facilities owned by Churches.”
Receiving the vehicle, Atoifi Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Chest Kuma said the vehicle could not have come at a better time.
“The airstrip at Atoifi is currently closed and shipping services to the area is irregular, so the delivery of the vehicle is very timely.
“This will also boost health service delivery and so we are very grateful for the vehicle that we are receiving today.
“It will be primarily used for transporting medical supplies and other urgent necessities from Auki to Atoifi,” said Dr Kuma.
The Ministry of Health in partnership with the SDA Mission Atoifi is grateful to the World Bank for making the resources available via its health project in the Ministry in enabling the procurement of the vehicle.
The vehicle will be shipped to Atoifi with other medical supplies soon.
- MHMS
Photo caption: Health Permanent Secretary Mrs. McNeil (fourth from left) Deputy Secretary Corporate Mr Jacob (third from left), Atoifi CEO Dr Kuma (fourth from right) and staff from the MHMS.
