A ROTARY club in Australia has donated a number of vital triage medical diagnostic kits to the Western Provincial Gizo Hospital.
The donated kits worth thousands of dollars were personally delivered by Colin Scobie Redcliffe Sunrise Rotary Club Vice President to the hospital administration on Friday 1 November.
The kits were received by the Western Provincial Health Director Dr Dickson Boara. Hospital Secretary Supervising Emma Basi also witnessed the presentation.
The handing over of the medical support was made possible by the Gizo Rotary club.
Vice President of the Brisbane-based Rotary club Scobie and his wife flew in from Brisbane to Honiara and boarded the cruise board Le Laperouse at the Honiara port before heading down Gizo.
From Honiara, the boat set sail for Roderick Bay and onwards to Gizo.
At the Western Provincial Capital, the tourist boat spent about four hours allowing Mr Scobie and members of Gizo Rotary to visit the Gizo Hospital where they handed over the assistance.
A captain of Le Laperouse, Romain Dufau-Hitou also witnessed the brief ceremony.
Mr Scobie said the donation was made possible through the assistance of Rotary members in Brisbane.
He said, members of the club were able to donate financially, which enabled the purchase of the much-needed equipment and machines.
Some of the medical equipment included eye testing chart, thermometer, blood pressure testing machine, finger tip oxygen tester, glucose level testing machine, ear torch and many more.
Mr Scobie, who has a background in radiology, said the equipment are first vital machines to conduct tests on a patient when she/he visits a health centre.
“This equipment will provide rapid assessment of patients arriving at A&E for necessary care for the community.
“The next nearest hospital is Honiara which is up to 10 to 15 hours away and this equipment will provide better local patient management without the need for transport.
The 95-bed hospital features maternity, X-ray, accident and emergency department and is supported by four doctors.
Mr Scobie thanked Ponant shipping for making this possible as well as Rotary members of both Gizo and Redcliffe Sunrise and other Rotarian members who are affiliated with supporting Ghizo Island projects.
He also thanked Kerrie Kennedy and Matthias Amalo for their assistance in the journey and delivery.
“This is a big thing for Solomon Island people,” he said.
Gizo Rotary Club members led by Matthias Amalo were at hand to witness the handover.
Mr Amalo told the ceremony that the assistance was possible after sometime of planning.
He said medical support has always been prioritized by the Gizo Rotary. It is not the first for Gizo Rotary to facilitate such support.
During a brief discussion between the Western Provincial Health Authority and Rotary members few needs of Gizo Hospital were highlighted.
And Amalo and his team will work closely with the Brisbane-based Rotary Club to support Gizo Hospital in the near future.
Dr Boara, on behalf of the Western provincial health authority and the Gizo Hospital administration, expressed sincere gratitude to Rotary Club of Redcliffe Sunrise.
He said the equipment though small, plays an important role in the delivery of services at Gizo hospital and the rural health centres within the province.
Dr Boara added that due limited resources most rural health centres do not have such machines and equipment.
“And for that we are grateful for the assistance and receive them with a grateful heart.
“We hope to see some more support from the club,” he added.
Dr Boara said the support will help to supplement some of the equipment which they do not have.
The Provincial Health Director informed Mr Scobie to pass on the hospital’s acknowledgment to members of the Redcliffe Sunrise club for the crucial support.
Following the handover, Amalo led the Scobie and his team for a brief tour of the hospital.
Hospital Secretary Supervising Emma Basi said the equipment will be distributed to the hospital and area health centers that desperately need them.
Le Laperouse departed Gizo late Friday afternoon for Papua New Guinea (PNG) as part of its 12-day cruise visit to Solomon Island and PNG.
The trip ends in Cairns, Australia.
By MOFFAT MAMU
Solomon Star, Gizo
