Solomon Islands Health Minister and Australian Ambassador for Global Health Inspect Progress of Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre

By Ian Kaukui 

The Minister of Health and Medical Services, Dr. Paul Bosawai, and Australia’s Ambassador for Global Health, Dr. Lucas de Toca, visited the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre in East Honiara today to witness the ongoing progress of the health facility construction project.

In his remarks during the site visit Hon Bosawai thanked the Australian Government for their financial support in making the project possible.

“On behalf of the government and people of Solomon Islands, I would like to sincerely acknowledge the people and government of Australia. Now I would say it is a big physical change that we’ve witnessed today compared to the time we launched the project with the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia,” he said.

Minister Bosawai also thanked Dr. Lucas de Toca for his visit, which, he said, helped pave the way for today’s site tour.

He also acknowledged the project contractor Reeve International for the work being carried out.

“What we have witnessed today is a great progress and I could only say as the Minister for health we anticipate the facility’s completion and use the facility and continue to save lives, I am sure the Naha facility will benefit the people across the whole Solomon Islands,” he said.

Hon Bosawai highlighted that the new facility would help alleviate the overcrowding at the National Referral Hospital’s Labor ward, improving conditions for both patients and healthcare staff.

Meanwhile Dr. Lucas said ninety-percent of the workers on the project are locals.

“We are moving into focusing essentially 100 percent on supporting Solomon Islanders to build infrastructure for Solomon Islands and so given the fact that we got 90 percent of the workforce are Solomon Islanders this is a good thing. They are also working inline to the Australian Standard of occupation and safety,” he said.

He added the project is not just about building infrastructure but also providing valuable training and skill development for the local workforce, which will have long-term benefits for the country.

Reeve International Site Manager Joe Fry told SIBC news the project is nearing 50 percent completion.

“We are approaching fifty percent completion on the structure of the project and the progress is on track. We have completed seven thousand one hundred and eighty cubic meters of concrete on the project to date and we are currently running on program having great progress despite the weather as we are in the wet season,” he said.

SIBC news understands the project’s construction phase is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Ends//