The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has signed an historic Partnership Agreement to help aid the nation’s medical sector, sealing arrangement for up to twenty 20-foot containers of medical supplies to be provided annually by New Zealand’s charitable organisation, Take My Hands.
Permanent Secretary Dr Tenneth Dalipada signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this week. It ended months of collaborative efforts amongst the Auckland-based Take-My-Hands, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the National Referral Hospital, Solomon Islands In Focus (SIF), a private website created by former Police Commissioner, Frank Short, to promote Solomon Islands.
In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Short said:
“Since last October much correspondence has been exchanged between myself (representing Solomon Islands in Focus (SIF), TMH and the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the National Referral Hospital (NRH).
“I am pleased to be able to confirm that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has now been agreed and signed between the MHMS, NRH, SIF and TMH to ensure the MHMS and the NRH receive the regular shipment from New Zealand of at least five (5), but no more than twenty (20), 20 foot containers of medical supplies and equipment per annum.”
“In addition to the containers for the NHMS and NRH, ‘Take My Hands’ has agreed to send a 20-foot container of mobility aids, furniture, beds, bedding and used clothing, on a trial run to assess customs duties that might be imposed on such items.
“Once delivered in Honiara the beneficiaries will include the members of the disabled community, the SIDT, the Community Centres accommodating women and young girls fleeing domestic violence and the 400 or so young orphans currently in the care of the Malaita-based charity, Hearts of Hope (HOH),” Mr Short said.
He said last October saw the first container arrive in Honiara from the New Zealand Charity Trust, ‘Take My Hands.’ (TMH) which contained 48 gifted beds and mattresses, valued at over S$138,000, for the National Referral Hospital.
“That first container was freighted by money donated by the Solomons Forest Association (SFA) following an appeal and the SFA subsequently donated more money to TMH to facilitate a second container of medical supplies and equipment for the NRH and Provincial Hospitals,” Mr Short said.
“A container is yet to be delivered as delivery has been delayed due to the need to find a new shipping partner to facilitate the freight of the containers across the year.
“Fortunately Swire Shipping have recently come on board and will be working with TMH to ensure the supply of humanitarian and medical supplies to the Solomon Islands.
“Freight rates will actually determine the actual number of 20-foot containers to be sent to Solomon Islands each year,” he said.
TMH is a charitable organization in New Zealand that connects those that have, with those in need and currently works in collecting medical equipment and resources that are no longer needed in New Zealand.
Mr Short said the general community and health benefits provided by this worthwhile partnership include:
- Overall people in the Solomon Islands will receive a better level of health care due to better resourcing;
- By providing equipment, the SIG budget can be diverted from equipment supply into other priority areas of the health and social systems with tangible results.
- People who receive better health care and recover more quickly are better able to provide for themselves, their family and their community.
By Alfred Sasako
