The people of Temotu, Eastern Solomon Islands will have better access to essential medicines with the opening of the Second Level Medical Store at Lata this week.
“This facility will improve the safe storage of essential medicines and equipment in Lata, and will service the 15 health clinics in Temotu province,” First Secretary Health, Gina De Pretto said at the opening.
“Australia has funded the construction and renovation of eleven second level medical stores across Solomon Islands since 2008. The facility at Lata is the twelfth.”
“The availability of medicines in rural health clinics across Solomon Islands has increased from around 40% in 2007 to 75% in 2015,” she said.
“Communities across the islands of Temotu face remarkable challenges due to distance and the infrequent transport between the remote islands. Having a new medical store in Lata will help to overcome the challenge of getting medicines to the people who need them by bringing medial stocks closer to clinics in remote areas.”
“It was tremendous to be in Lata at the opening of this facility and to know that it will benefit around 24,000 people who live across Temotu. Construction of the facility only started in January this year, and the build was the fastest to date.”
Silas Bakila the Pharmacy Officer in Lata was pleased with the new store.
“Before the store room was very cramped and would leak, rats would come in and spoil the medicines. We now have space to store plenty of medicines, medical supplies and vaccines. Temotu Province has challenges with distribution of supplies to remote islands such as Tikopia. We can now store more stock in Lata to ensure that we have enough medicines to send to remote islands.”
Ms De Pretto, National Medical Store and local provincial health staff also distributed SBD1.96 million worth of clinic equipment funded by Australia.
Joseph, a Nurse Aide at Manoputi Nurse Aide Post, was thrilled to find a new stethoscope among the equipment as his current one was broken.
Australia’s rural health support includes improving access to primary health care for all, such as immunisations, family planning, rural water and sanitation, safe baby deliveries, and malaria prevention.
Source: Press Release, Australian High Commission, Solomon Islands