The Ministry of Health and Medical Services in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA) have opened a satellite maternal clinic and a Care Centre for children and parents at Venga Village in Santa Cruz.
Permanent Secretary for the MHMS Dr Lester Ross said the clinic is set up to help people; provide medical attention and health education awareness to the people and communities that were affected by the recent Tsunami in Santa Cruz, Temotu Province.
A Medical Team deployed to affected communities has completed assessments in the Northern, Western Coast of the island, and the environmental health /RWSS team collaborating with the Red Cross and World Vision continue to implement medical activities there which includes, supervision, Information and Laboratory reaction, wash and other Environmental Health programs.
Dr Ross said according to the assessment done regarding health, the Ministry is working very closely with the team on matters arising as well as help the team on the field to address the issues affecting the people.
The up-dated Health assessment by the health team at the tsunami affected areas includes the following:
The Deployed team from the MHMS for Lata has been change as other replacement has been done to continue the MHMS activities,Identified six priority camps for water tank installation.Contract Pate to supply timber for water catchment house.Discussed with Constituency Development Committee Chairman to use available iron roofing materials at Lata whilst arrangements has been made to purchase materials from HoniaraSIRC Volunteers will assist camps/communities to build rain catchment and install water tanks
Also the Vector Borne and Communicable Disease Prevention (VBCDP) team within the Ministry of Health and Medical Service has continued to distribute bed nets at the camp site
Meanwhile the assessment still continues and health work continues on some of the health sector recommendations that need to be addressed.
The team needed sea transport to perform outreach and emergency retrieval of areas reporting high disease burden, assessment by fast craft needs to be conducted, these will need to provide additional outreach and emergency retrieval support.
An additional 5 medical officers are required at Lata Hospital to lead the implementation of the early health sector recovery phase of the disaster as well as diagnostic services and equipment is much need.
Dr Ross said given this recommendation, the Ministry is working very closely with the NDC to resolve some of the outstanding issues and the Ministry will provide support to this recommendations.
Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit, Honiara