The World Bank Technical Mission team has successfully wrapped up its two-day mission to Honiara.
The team was led by the World Bank Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population, Dr Juan Pablo Uribe, including Health, Nutrition and Population Practice Manager Dr Ronald Upenyu Mutasa, Health Specialist Wayne Irava, and Health Finance Analyst Michael Mike.
During the visit, the Global Director and Practice Manager met the Minister of Finance and Treasury Manasseh Sogavare and officials within the Finance Ministry, Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Permanent Secretary and the MHMS executive.
The team also participated in an open knowledge forum panel discussion with MHMS and NRH senior officials, MOFT Officials and health partners.
The open knowledge forum was the first of its kind for the health sector, generating constructive discussions, and an opportunity for new knowledge of global perspective.
With the meeting at MOFT, the World Bank Technical Team commended the support demonstrated by MOFT to the health sector, and further discussed new opportunities for Health.
In this mission, the WB team acknowledge the great partnership established between the World Bank and the Solomon Islands government through MHMS and thanked the government for their ongoing commitment to improve health services in the country.
World Bank is committed to continue support the health sector through their program of advisory services and analytics (PASA) that will help the ministry to make informed decisions based on evidence.
More so, the team discuss opportunities and future engagement in the health sector of Solomon Islands.
Apart from meetings, the mission includes field visits to Good Samaritan Hospital, National Medical Store that benefited from Covid-19 Emergency Response Project, and visited the National Referral Hospital.
The field visits provided a glimpse of the contextual challenges in the delivery of health services in Solomon Islands.
MHMS Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil expressed appreciation and gratitude for the mission.
“It is rare to have such esteemed high-ranking World Bank Health Officials, visiting us and so we are very grateful.
“This mission gives us the opportunity to strengthen our relationship that will build on trust and shared value to support government priorities in the health sector”
Speaking to wrap up the visit, Global Health Director Dr Juan Pablo expressed appreciation for the Solomon Islands Government.
“We appreciate the Solomon Islands Government’s commitment to enhancing the resilience and effectiveness of its healthcare system, as well as the alignment of this initiative with your national development priorities, we are here to support having you leading the way,” said Dr Pablo.
The team left Honiara on Wednesday.
- MHMS
