People of Rennell and Bellona Province (Renbel) will now be able to access and enjoy a much more improved health and medical services in their province.
This followed the formal opening and handing over of the first ever Area Health Center (AHC) at Tingoa on Rennell on Tuesday.
The facility was funded by the Solomon Islands Government at a cost of about SB$6 million dollars.
It was formally opened by the Caretaker Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr. Angikimua Kaitu’u and Caretaker Provincial Premier Collin Singamoana.
The modern health facility was initiated in 2016 as part of the National Government’s efforts to bring medical services to people through implementing the Role Delineation Policy and the advancement of Universal Health Coverage.
The key aim of the policy is to ensure effective delivery of essential health and related services with improved coverage and equitable access and minimal financial barriers.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health has shown that Rennell and Bellona Province has one of the highest referral cases to Honiara due to lack of specialized health services in the Province for many years.
“The opening of the center demonstrates the National Government’s ongoing commitment to the current National Health Strategic Plan of 2016 – 2020 for Health, which aims empower people to live a life that is healthy, happy and productive,” said Caretaker Minister Dr. Kaitu’u.
Construction of the center began in 2017 and was completed on May 2018. Its completion has brought people of the province together to celebrate and witness this milestone achievement on Tuesday.
According to Dr. Kaitu’u, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services is mandated to provide equitable, accessible and quality health services to people across the country.
“We exist to help people maintain the highest level of good health that is attainable, that is a state of complete physical, mental, social wellbeing and free from disease,” he said.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Premier Collin Singamoana has expressed his profound gratitude to the National Government for finally recognizing the health needs of the province and its people and for its commitment to ensure the project is delivered.
The Caretaker Premier said his people have suffered for a long time in the absence of proper health services and the delivery of this project is a milestone achievement for his province.
Mr Singamoana also pledged the Renbel Provincial Government’s commitment through its health division to properly manage and adequately resource the center to ensure quality health services is delivered to people.
He urged people to respect and take good care of the facility because it will save lives.
A high level government delegation and officials from the various Ministries traveled to witness the commissioning ceremony.
The health complex will soon be equipped with modern medical equipment to provide new and improved services including general outpatient, X-Ray, dental, laboratory, maternal and post natal, adolescence health and non-communicable diseases programs.
Similar area health centers are currently under construction in some identified locations around the country as the Ministry of Health and Medical Services continues to implement the Role Delineation Policy.
