MHMS pays final respect to colleague and friend Late Dr Christopher Becha

The Senior Executive Management and staff of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), National Referral Hospital and Honiara City Council Health Team today paid their final respect to their fellow colleague and friend, Late Dr Christopher Becha at his funeral service held at the Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral.

Delivering his Eulogy and on behalf of the Minister of Health and Medical Services, Hon.Dr Culwick Togamana and the MHMS Officers, Mrs Pauline McNeil, the Health Permanent Secretary said the tragic death of Dr Becha took the Ministry by shock describing the week as a sad one for many within the health workforce, whom have known Dr Becha and worked with him.

“My last encounter with him was last week Wednesday when we both attended the Malaria program Midterm review. Little did I knew it would be the last final encounter”, said Mrs McNeil.

She described Dr Becha as an invaluable asset of the Ministry and that his loss leaves behind a significant gap that will not be easy to replace. “Dear Colleague Becha, you have left us with a huge gap, your professional capacities, capabilities skills and talent but also your friendship, and humour and notably your big heart for your profession and colleagues and the health of the people will be greatly missed.

“We can only take comfort in our Almighty God, the giver and taker of life as we all make our plans but the Lord has the last say. In him we rest our sorrow so that his comfort and peace may also be with us at this very difficult time”,

She concluded stating that the Ministry is grateful towards the late Dr Becha and will always keep in heart his wonderful service to the Ministry and the people. Rest in peace Dear brother and friend until that resurrection day.

Excerpt from the Eulogy read today by PS Health on the late Dr Christopher Becha time with the Ministry of Health.

While we mourn the loss of a colleague, we pay tribute and celebrate a life that was well lived.  Coming from a very humble and simple beginnings, Dr Christopher Becha

• Graduated from the University of Papua New Guinea with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) in 2003.
• He entered Public Service as Medical Registrar on 21 February 2005 following his registration with the Medical and Dental board of Solomon Islands.
• As medical registrar, Late Dr Becha worked as a medical officer serving in a number of our health facilities including the National Referral Hospital and Gizo Hospital in 2005.
• Having demonstrated leadership qualities, he was promoted to the position of Provincial Health Director for Choiseul Province in late 2005 to 2006.
• From 2006 to 2007, he served as Provincial Health Director for Guadalcanal
• In 2008 he left for Post Graduate studies at the University of New South Wales and studied towards Masters in Hhealth Service
• From 2009 to 2010, late Dr Becha was posted to Temotu Province as Provincial Health Director. While at Temotu Province, he established health finance committee, staff management committee and infrastructure committee. He also introduced Direct Wage Employees to be paid on fortnightly basis.
• It was also late Dr Becha’s time at Temotu Province that the government’s strategy on Elimination of Malaria for Temotu Province was launched.
• In late 2010, Dr Becha, was appointed Medical Superintendent of National Referral Hospital
• A year later, Dr Becha, was appointed Director of Policy and Planning and became the Undersecretary when the head of Policy and Planning Unit was upgraded to Undersecretary position from 2011 to 2014.
• On 23 February 2015, late Dr Becha was transferred to the position of Undersecretary Health Improvement.
• As Undersecretary Health Improvement, late Dr Chris Becha was instrumental in the development of the Role Delineation Policy that the Ministry of Health is using as the policy platform for universal health coverage, bringing health services and care close to the people. The fruits from the policy is the establishment of the Aola, Afio and Avuavu Area Health Centers.
• Late Dr Chris also led important responses to natural disasters and disease outbreaks such as the 2014 flash floods and late 2014 to early 2015 the diarrhea outbreak as the chair of the National Health Emergency Operation Centre, NHEOC.
• In 2018, late Dr. Becha was awarded a WHO fellowship to undertake a post graduate studies in Health Economics at the University of Queensland, Australia.
• Late Dr Becha returned in 2019 and continued with his studies on off-campus mode.
• On the 1^st of January 2021, late Dr Chris was posted to Honiara City Council as the Provincial Health Director, a position he held until the time of his passing.
• Late Dr Christopher Becha funeral photos and captions