Health improves facilities at border for reopening

Health moves to further improve and strengthen health facilities and capacities in Western Border ahead of border reopening

With ongoing efforts to gear up for full reopening of the borders come end of July 2022 and ongoing efforts to strengthen health system, a team from the National Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) which includes an infrastructure manager, a biomedical officer and two environmental health officers, etc. are currently in the Western border.

The mission is to support targeted health facilities with COVID-19 preparedness, response, and business continuity planning, strengthen collaboration between health and provincial government in priority development areas, complete site assessment and community engagement and awareness of proposed developments.

Over the weekend, an assessment of staff housing and health quarantine station at Kulitanai in the Shortland was completed as well as an assessment of Nila Area Health Centre level 1 isolation wards and quarantine station.

The assessments and discussion with key partners on the ground including communities is crucial to further inform health as to how it will proceed with its intentions to further strengthen capacity and capabilities of health facilities and workers in Shortland to respond with possible 3^rd wave of COVID-19 as borders will reopen next month but also in preparation for any future outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Today the team was in Taro, Choiseul province where they met with the provincial health team and Choiseul Provincial Government to strengthen collaboration with provincial governments on priority proposed developments including re-development and improvement plans for Taro hospital.

Tomorrow onwards the team will be conducting an assessment to develop an enhanced service package for the Sasamunga Area Health Centre including relocation of some clinical services once the redevelopment of Taro hospital is underway.

Last leg of their tour in will be at Wagina, Choiseul province to assess the new site for the Wagina Area Health Centre with community consultation with the Gilbertese community there.

Outcome of these assessments, consultations and awareness carried out by the team will  see in the not too distant future, improved health infrastructure and facilities, equipped with necessary medical drugs and consumables including an enhanced capacity and capabilities of health workers to respond to outbreaks and deliver normal health services.

The deployment was made possible through World Bank funding support to health to respond to COVID-19 and strengthen health systems.