Naha community briefed on Health Centre construction
Media Release
28 June 2024
Over 25 leaders from Naha and surrounding communities in East Honiara have endorsed the next steps for the construction of the new SBD250m/AUD45m Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre.
At the fourth Naha community leaders meeting for the project, the main works contractor Reeves-ICON was introduced to outline key construction dates for community attention.
Project community representative, Mr Robert Pisu, praised the project and said the community stood by to support construction to take place.
“On behalf of the Naha Community, I say thank you to the Australian Government for your unfailing commitment to this project. The Naha community will always be there to support in whatever way we can.”
Supervising Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Dr Gregory Jilini acknowledged Australia’s continuous support to the health sector in Solomon Islands.
“With this state-of-the-art facility, mothers will be able to access the very best pre- and post-natal care, and at the same time ease pressure on the National Referral Hospital.”
Dr Jilini also welcomed the fact that that this facility will provide dental, pathology, x-ray, ultrasound, and pharmacy services to the community.
Medical Services Director for Honiara City Council, Dr Lawrence Diau said the community would continue to be kept up to date as the project progressed.
“Our aim is to minimise community and health service disruptions, while delivering the project as quickly as possible.”
Australia’s Counsellor for Infrastructure, Mr Craig Gillies, thanked community leaders for their involvement in the project, and their commitment to keeping people up to date.
“With your ongoing support, in less than 24 months, the Naha community will be walking into a brand new, fully equipped health facility that will set a new benchmark for quality health care.”
Mr Gillies reemphasised the commitments made by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence the Hon Richard Marles MP in his recent visit to the site, that the building would be delivered as quickly as possible, without cutting corners on quality, and using a local workforce wherever possible.
Australia’s Counsellor for Human Development, Dr Tristan Armstrong, praised the work of local health workers and reinforced the value of Australia’s ongoing support to Solomon Islands’ health sector.
“As Solomon Islands’ number one partner in health sector support, Australia understands the importance of strengthening local health skills and systems so that once constructed, this world-class health facility can deliver high quality healthcare to the people of Naha and the whole country for many years to come.”
