TULAGI Hospital in the Central Islands Provincial Capital last week received a world class incinerator to help it manages its wastes.
The Incinerator Facility was handed over by the World Bank, Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and the Tulagi Hospital Renovation Project constructor RSF to the Central Provincial Government on Friday 1 November.
Central Province Premier Michael Salini received the incinerator, which will address waste from the hospital.
The incinerator is funded under the World Bank COVID-19 Emergency Response Project worth SBD$ 1.4 million.
The Tulagi Hospital incinerator is vital to strengthening the hospital’s waste management and contribute towards the strengthening of the country’s health system.
This is part of strengthening the resilience capacity of Tulagi hospital in terms of containing and controlling any future outbreak of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases.
The construction of the incinerator facility involved civil works for the foundation, installation of incinerator and associated fittings and equipment and the establishment of proper fencing and landscaping and a stabilization site.
Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Dr Gregory Jilini was pleased with the completion of the project and the first phase of the Tulagi Hospital.
“Today we are here to celebrate the successful completion of the two projects, the Hospital Incinerator Project and the completion of the first two buildings of the newly renovated Tulagi Hospital.
“These projects are to improve health care services and infrastructures across the Solomon Islands and Central Islands Province,” Dr Jilini said.
Health Specialist of World Bank Solomon Islands, Wayne Irava said the new incinerator is to manage hospital waste.
“With the new incinerator, you now have the means to manage waste responsibly and sustainably, ensuring the hazardous materials are handled with care and with the precision they demand.
“It is an investment not only for the safety of the community but for the health of our environment,” Mr Irava said.
This new facility was constructed by RSF Construction.
The wife of RSF Director George Noda, Mele Tupou Noda acknowledged the World Bank and Ministry of Health and Medical Services for inviting RSF to hand over the facility to the Tulagi Hospital.
“Today marks a significant milestone for RSF, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the World Bank and Tulagi Hospital as we gather to hand over the Tulagi Incinerator.
“From March to May this year, my team worked tirelessly to construct and install a modern world class incinerator to ensure Tulagi Hospital is able to effectively dispose of medical waste from the hospital, subsequently contributing to the improvement of health facilities in the province,” Mrs Noda said.
Tulagi Hospital Incinerator is one of the four incinerators in the country constructed by RSF Construction Company.
RSF Construction is a locally owned company, established by George Noda in 2010.
The implementation of the activities of this project is managed by the Project Management Unit (PMU) within the MHMS.
The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) secured funds from the World Bank through the Fast Track COVID-19 response for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (C19 ERP Project).
The project reflects the emergency response under the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Program (SPRP).
The project aims to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and to strengthen national systems for public health preparedness for future outbreaks in Solomon Islands.
By LACHLAN SHYVES EDDIE
Solomon Star, Honiara
