A long-serving doctor at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara wants the United States to build a new hospital for the Solomon Islands.
Dr. Rooney Jagilly, the hospital’s head of surgery, made the request when he and his colleagues met a visiting United States congressional delegation in Honiara on Tuesday.
Rep. Neal Dunn and Rep. Amata Radewagen, members of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, were on a fact-finding mission.
They held a series of bilateral meetings with various groups across government and civil society, before leaving for Papua New Guinea on Wednesday.
“This hospital has over-lived its capacity to meaningfully serve the needs of the people of this country,” Jagilly, who had served at the hospital over the last 30 years, told the visiting delegates.
“If I had a wish, it is that the United States build us a new hospital,” he added.
“I know the United States had built our parliament, which is an important institution for the country.
“But I think a hospital is also important.
“The people of this country deserve a better hospital.”
The existing hospital, built by Taiwan some 30 years ago, was once the site of a US military hospital during the Second World War.
That’s how it got its local name “Namba 9”.
Other doctors also shared the challenges they face working in a hospital that is poorly equipped and over-crowded.
Dr Leeanne Panisi is the Head of Department of the Obstetric & Gynaecology Unit, the department responsible for women, pregnancy, childbirth and reproductive health.
She told the delegation around 5,500 babies were delivered at the hospital each other. Nation-wide, she said the number is around 17,000.
“One of the main issues at this hospital is lack of space,” Panisi said.
“…….and yes, a new hospital would be the way forward for us because we need space for our women and children,” she added.
Rep. Dunn and Rep. Radewage praised the doctors for their commitment to work and serve under very difficult circumstances.
“We heard your request for a new hospital, and I think it’s a very reasonable request,” Rep. Dunn, himself a medical doctor, said.
He assured the doctors they’ll take that request to the attention of the US Government.
But he also acknowledged that this sort of project did take years to materialise.
In recent months, photos of patients lying on the floor of the hospital due to lack of beds, and splashed across social media, has reinforced the need for the Government to build a new and bigger hospital.
Government talks of relocating the hospital from its existing site has been going on over the last eight years.
The relocation was necessary due to rising sea level, which was eating away the hospital’s shoreline.
Government has already secured a site behind Gilbert Camp, east of Honiara, for the new hospital.
In July last year, hospital chief executive officer, Dr George Malefoasi, said site preparation, including geo-tech survey, has been ongoing at the site.
But he could not say whether funding has been secured or when actual construction would start.
Meanwhile, China is building what it called a Comprehensive Medical Centre (CMC) on the eastern side of the hospital.
Minutes outlining the project were signed in May last year by officials of both countries.
Construction is expected to start after the completion of a feasibility study.
The proposed facility, according to the Ministry of Health, will house a cardiac centre to diagnose heart problems and provide treatment.
This will later expand to include renal specialized services and treatment of kidney diseases.
The national referral hospital is the nation’s biggest medical facility.
The second biggest is the Japanese-funded hospital at Gizo, Western Province.
Japan is also in the process of building a new hospital for Malaita Province, at Kilui’i.
Caption:
Medical Superintendent Dr Janella Solomon, right, explaining the various departments at the hospital to Rep. Neal Dunn and Rep. Amata Radewa during a tour of the hospital on Tuesday 14 August 2023.
