UP to the time ARK PEACE – China’s largest Navy Hospital Ship – arrived in Honiara at the weekend, few people realize China possesses advanced medical know-how to deal with any and all emergencies.
The medical team onboard ARK PEACE has changed all that.
Since its arrival, hundreds were bused in from the Solomon Ports area as early as 9am daily to await a chance to be seen by medical specialists onboard this floating hospital.
Some arrived as early as 6am at the Ports area. Many feel they would never get a chance to be seen at the National Referral Hospital, which appears to be showing spasms of a health system at breaking point.
This evidenced by queues everywhere – outside Honiara City Council clinics, the National Referral Hospital and most notably, ARK PEACE.
“This is evidence of 1) Huge backlog of medical and surgical cases; (and) 2) Need for more hospitals. It’s not rocket science, folks,” one doctor pointed out on social media yesterday.
In the case of ARK PEACE, it is a chance in a lifetime for many.
Yesterday, it was the turn of many national politicians and their spouses. They were the first onboard. Members of the public followed.
As well, free clinics were offered at community locations throughout. The ship’s helicopter also flew a medical mission to Tulagi, Central Islands Province yesterday morning.
Outpatients it would seem have been given the same or similar attention by medical professionals onboard the ARK PEACE, which is on its Mission Harmony 2023.
Commanded by Rear Admiral Zhai Guangqing and Rear Admiral Li Xinke, the ARK PEACE hospital ship is China’s large self-built platform. It has operating rooms (theatres), medical offices, nurse stations and hundreds of sickbeds.
As well, it is equipped with advanced medical apparatus such as CT, DR and color ultrasonography. The ship also has a medical helicopter onboard.
By Alfred Sasako
