Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre Visited by VIPs

The Honorable Paul Bosawai, Minister of Health and Medical Services of the Solomon Islands, recently inspected the ongoing construction of the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre. He was accompanied by Dr. Lucas de Toca, Australia’s Global Health Ambassador, who was on an official visit to the Solomon Islands.

The official delegation toured the construction site, which is halfway complete and currently employs nearly 100 local workers. Minister Bosawai expressed his appreciation for the progress of the construction of the new health center, valued at 250 million Solomon Islands dollars / 45 million Australian dollars.

Minister Bosawai stated, "Once completed, the birthing center will relieve the burden on the National Referral Hospital (NRH). Currently, there is immense pressure on bed space in the NRH maternity ward. The labor ward has 10 recovery beds. If the labor ward averages approximately 18 deliveries per day, bed occupancy becomes a huge challenge. Bed occupancy in 2023 was 126%. In this dire situation, mothers should ideally stay in the hospital for at least 24 hours after delivery, but due to lack of space, they are often discharged eight hours after giving birth. This is very dangerous for both mother and baby, as sometimes the mother or baby develops other illnesses at home. Space limitations at NRH are a challenge, while the population continues to grow at a rate of 2.8% per year."

Dr. Bosawai also noted, "Given the large population in East Honiara, this advanced birthing center will meet the high demand for medical services and provide high-quality services to the surrounding communities and the entire country." He also thanked the Australian government for funding this multi-million dollar project.

The dignitaries met with nursing staff and health officials, receiving briefings on the intensive health planning underway to ensure the center is fully equipped and ready to commence services when the facility opens. Dr. de Toca, who oversees Australia's regional and global development assistance in the health sector, was impressed by the scale and quality of the building. He said, "I am equally impressed by the level of partnership between Australian and Solomon Islands health officials to ensure that the center is equipped with high-quality, fit-for-purpose equipment and that staff are fully trained and ready to receive patients when it opens early next year."

Dr. de Toca added, "Clearly, a great deal of hard work, care, and cooperation is taking place between the two governments, which will ultimately save lives and improve the health of the people of the Solomon Islands, especially mothers and babies." His Excellency Rod Hilton, Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, stated that the health center remains a top priority for the Solomon Islands-Australia partnership. High Commissioner Hilton said, "Both our governments want to provide sustainable, high-quality care for the people of the Solomon Islands every day. Australia understands the need to provide this world-class medical facility without cutting corners, to provide high-quality, locally-led, and well-equipped infrastructure that will last."

The new facility includes a large urban health clinic and a low-risk birthing center with five delivery rooms, seventeen short-stay inpatient beds, an operating theater, and clinical support services. The center will provide women with birthing, antenatal, and postnatal care services, as well as dental, pathology, X-ray and ultrasound, and pharmacy services to the community.