NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL TEAM TO SOLOMONS: McCULLY
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully. Photo: Courtesy of scmp.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, announced yesterday that New Zealand will send a medical assistance team to Solomon Islands to assist the National Referral Hospital in meeting urgent medical needs following the recent flooding.
Mr McCully says the team will also support the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to provide medical support to affected areas, including in the evacuation centres.
The main hospital in Honiara is stretched after the recent flooding and there is a very serious risk of waterborne disease spreading around the capital.
He adds, two New Zealand health teams will be deployed on separate rotations, to assist the local authorities.
The teams will consist of up to ten people, including; emergency management doctors and nurses, logisticians and support staff.
Mr. McCully says the first medical assistance team rotation will start work in Honiara on Thursday 16 April.
New Zealand’s contribution to relief and recovery efforts in Solomon Islands now totals 16.3 million dollars.