THE Forward in Faith Ministry International (FIFMI) Solomon Islands Church has donated crucial medical equipment and mixed goods to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara on Wednesday.
Pr Rueben Makosa from the African nation of Zimbabwe and his church members handed over the vital donations to the NRH Medical Superintendent Dr Janella Solomon and other NRH staff at the NRH Conference Room.
FIFM Church Elder Leonard Meleibla, in his remarks, said the church sees its donations of medical equipment as gifts towards a worthy cause and was pleased to participate in assisting the NRH in whatever way it could.
He said although the church is a non-government organization, it is its Christian obligation to assist NRH, given the challenging situation it faces in delivering health services to the general population of Honiara.
“FIFMI is involved in the spiritual and physical development of a person and it can participate with NRH in ensuring that people’s health is taken care of and maintained.
“NRH is the country’s only referral hospital and the efficiency of the services it provides or lacks affects everyone, including our relatives and members of the church. Given this standpoint, it is vitally important that we must assist the hospital in whatever way we can,” Elder Meleibla underscored.
The medical equipment that the church donated included 8 sets of blood pressure machines, stethoscopes, thermometers and pulse oximeters.
The mixed goods donated included 42 bags of 20kg rice, 11 bales of washing powder, 7 cartons of Harpic detergent, 10 cartons of bucket roller, 14 bales of toilet tissues, 4 cartons of medium Soltuna and 4 cartons of bath soap.
Elder Meleibla said, although these donations may be deemed small, the church believes they will go a long way in meeting the needs of the hospital, easing the burden it currently faces in delivering health services at its different wards.
NRH Medical Superintendent Dr Janella Solomon thanked the FIFMI for the donations.
“To the Forward in Faith Church Pastor, Reuben Makosa and the team who are here, on behalf of the National Referral Hospital, we are honored to have you here this afternoon. We thank you so much for taking time out from your work to come here at the lunch hour to donate some equipment and goods to the hospital.
“We always treasure donated gifts from church groups. Solomon Islands is built upon the foundation of our Christian faith and so we always value God in our lives.
“So, thank you very much for bringing the presence of the Almighty here and thank you very much for the donations. We welcome you to NRH,” Dr Solomon expressed.
Forward in Faith Ministries International’s involvement in the health sector goes a long way back. The church was founded in Zimbabwe on 12 May 1960 and its headquarters is in the capital Harare where it has a large hospital, a university and a number of schools and other organizations that cater for the needs of the needy and underprivileged.
The Church is a mega church and is currently in 168 countries and territories around the world, including Solomon Islands.
It was registered in Solomon Islands on 4 December 2014 and today it is established in Temotu, Makira-Ulawa, Malaita, Western and Guadalcanal provinces.
It will soon reach out to the four remaining provinces of the country.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
FIFM Church Elder Leonard Meleibla speaking at the handover
Dr Solomon making her remarks
The donated mixed goods
