PEOPLE relying on Ughele Clinic in Rendova Island, Western Province, for health services have been denied of these services for more than one year now.
People could not access health services despite the presence of the facility.
The Western Provincial Health Division told Solomon Star mid this year that the reason for not posting a registered nurse to the clinic was the unavailability of a proper nurse staff house.
However, a patient at the Helena Goldie from Ughele Village, who was recently transferred to the National Referral Hospital, told Solomon Star last Thursday that work on the nurse staff house has been completed.
“For more than a year now, the clinic has been without a registered nurse. A nurse should be posted to the clinic because the staff house has already been completed.”
The patient was here for the amputation of one of his legs due to diabetes.
He said travelling for medical checkups at the Helena Goldie Hospital is expensive for grassroots people because they have to pay for boat hires.
“And whilst admitted at the [Helena Goldie] hospital, we have to meet our own expenses in Munda, the patient added.
He said some patients had to seek financial support from their relatives working in Honiara and elsewhere in the country to meet their expenses.
“This is very difficult, given the economic hardship affecting people in the country.
“Such situation can be avoided if only a registered nurse is posted to the Ughele Clinic so that people will not travel far to access basic health services,” the patient added.
By LACHLAN EDDIE HOE
Solomon Star, Honiara
