Miss Solomon presents donation to the NRH Cancer Unit

By Alfred Pagepitu

Miss Solomon Islands, Elsie Polosovai, donated $5,000 to the Cancer Unit at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) yesterday.

The funds were raised during a Pinktober fundraiser last month, where homemade cakes were sold in Dunedin, New Zealand, as part of a cancer awareness campaign.

In an interview with SIBC News , Polosovai expressed that, although the amount may seem small, she hopes it will bring hope to both the staff and patients at the Cancer Unit.

“I was here today at NRH to hand over the donation. While it is a modest sum, I hope it helps the patients and staff by providing them with essential resources,” she says.

Polosovai also expressed her desire to visit the staff and patients at the Oncology Unit in the future.

She highlighted the efforts of the Cancer Trust Fund, initiated by former Miss Solomon Islands Gladys Habu, which aims to encourage more community support for cancer care.

“I want to continue her work and expand on it,” she said.

Polosovai also expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to meet the staff and patients.

She commended the resilience and bravery of the people of the Solomon Islands, acknowledging the challenges faced within the healthcare system.

“Despite these challenges, I admire everyone’s strength and courage,” she remarked.

“I want to share that the NRH staff informed me their mammogram machines are operational. I will assist in disseminating information on how to make bookings for screenings. It’s crucial for women to perform self-breast examinations to detect early symptoms of breast cancer, which is quite prevalent in our society today.”

“I am passionate about advocating for women’s health. I hope that you feel comfortable reaching out with any concerns regarding women’s health. I am here to be a supportive ear and helping hand within my capacity in the Solomon Islands,” she added.

Meanwhile, NRH Medical Superintendent, Dr. Janella Solomon expressed her gratitude for the donation, stating it will significantly benefit patients at the Cancer Unit.

“This morning, I was humbled by Ms. Solomon’s visit to deliver a donation to the NRH, specifically for the cancer unit. This unit cares for numerous cancer patients seeking treatment daily, including those on palliative care, as well as patients needing blood tests and transfusions.”

“Typically, we see around 12 to 15 patients each day for treatment, blood collection, or transfusion. We also face various resource needs at the hospital. With the festive season approaching, we aim to bring joy to our patients during Christmas. This donation for the Oncology Unit will help provide small gifts and essentials for the patients,” she noted.

Miss Solomon then visited the Oncology ward, where she met some cancer patients.

The donation was formally handed over to the management and staff of the ward, who expressed their thanks in the presence of delighted patients who were eager to meet her.

ENDS//