The National Referral Hospital (NRH) relocation committee has embarked on a five year project to relocate the National Referral Hospital.
The aim of the relocation is to make sure there is improvement in the quality and safety of health care services provided to the public.
Chairman of the NRH Relocation Committee Dr. Aaron Oritaimae said, the relocation and reorientation of health services will enable NRH to meet the high demand for quality health service in the country.
He said, the benefit of the NRH relocation and reorientation of health services includes the opportunity to increase the number of beds, improve patients’ privacy, and provide faster access to quality health services.
As part of this process, the committee is aiming at developing an infrastructure which will equip with medical and clinical equipments surrounded by a better information systems, protocols, procedures and practices which will make health services much easier.
As the site for the relocation is yet to be confirmed, the committee is preparing to perform a survey and geotechnical assessment before a new site can be confirmed.
“The assessment for a possible site should be completed and confirmed by next month.”
He said, a roadmap is currently being developed which includes identifying of critical milestones and decisions towards the NRH relocation where he said, will be presented to the Government for endorsement.
With that, the NRH relocation committee is also working with the hospital’s heads of department, the Guadalcanal Province and Honiara City health authorities to ensure the relocation of the hospital delivers to the expectation.
In addition, the committee is also supporting the NRH executive with the task of ensuring the current hospital environment is safe, with a focus on improving water, sanitation, hygiene and overcrowding which is a challenge at the NRH now.
Dr. Oritaimae said, with the current phase, the Democratic Coalition for Change Government policy transformation on the NRH relocation programme is progressing as planned.
The committee as formed purposely to ensure decisive issues facing NRH are addressed accordingly. The committee since it’s established in January 2015 has held nine meetings in total.
The committee members include representatives from NRH, MHMS, Prime Ministers Office, Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination, Ministry of Finance and Treasury, Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey, Ministry of Environment Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Guadalcanal Province, Honiara City Council, Solomon Islands National Council of Women, Development Services Exchange and Solomon Islands Christian Association.
By Biriau Wilson Saeni
