ISLANDERS living on the far eastern island of Duff in Temotu province have raised concern over the deteriorating state of their only rural clinic.
And they call on both the national and provincial government to step in to improve the infrastructure of their rural clinic.
A visit by the Solomon Star to the clinic fortnight ago saw the clinic in a rundown state unfit for humanitarian service.
The building structure is old, rusty and poses health risk to people.
Duff clinic is being operated under the Temotu provincial government and serves more three hundred people on the island.
The Duff is a small island group lying to the northeast of the Santa Cruz Islands.
Provincial Member for Duff Island who led a media team around the island, Stanley Tehi said, the clinic building is a standard building the government build many years ago.
“This clinic was built many years back and today we still use this old clinic building. You can see the rusty roofing iron of the building. The water coming from the clinic is also unhygienic but we still use it because we did not know where to get medical treatment.
“Many times during heavy rain we have to move the medical equipment and medicine somewhere safe from rain due to leaking roofs because its not safe anymore.”
He said, the island never receives any help and support from government. Even the past MPs have fail to upgrade the clinic and staff house.
The provincial member said, the island usually experience shortage in medical supplies during bad weather.
The island is blessed with water which helps to sustain the people.
Mr Tehi thanked the visiting Member of Parliament for Temotu VATUD constituency Freda Tuki Soriacomua for her visit.
“I would like to thank our MP for her visit here to see for herself the deteriorating state of our rural clinic.”
Past MPs and government fail to support us, he added.
Temotu Provincial Minister for Health Charles Motunagi said, they have plans to upgrade all health clinics within the province.
However, lack of funds had been an issue.
He said, the provincial government only provides assistance to the health centres whenever it can.
By DENVER NEWTER
