19 February 2015
National Referral Hospital’s post-natal ward officially opened
Opening the newly refurbished Post Natal Ward at the National Referral Hospital with the Health Minister Dr Kaitu’u. 6000 babies are born at NRH each year.
The newly refurbished post-natal ward at the National Referral Hospital was officially opened today by the Minister for Health and Medical Services, the Hon. Tautai Angikimua Kaitu’u, and Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Steven Ciobo MP.
Speaking at the opening, Mr Ciobo said Australia is proud to have assisted in repairing the post natal ward.
“Australia is immensely proud to have funded the refurbishment of the post natal ward here at the National Referral Hospital,” he said.
“We hope that our support for the post-natal ward, and our broader support for the National Referral Hospital and Solomon Islands health system, will contribute to improve the health of Solomon Islanders for many years to come.”
Dr Kaitu’u thanked Australia for its ongoing support to the health sector including funding for the refurbishment.
“I would like to thank the Australian Government for their ongoing support towards the Solomon Islands health sector and their willingness to assist in times of disaster, major disease outbreaks and generally improving the health system.”
“The opening of the refurbished maternal ward is another testimony of the Australian Government’s commitment to improving and strengthening the Solomon Islands Health sector.”
The refurbishment of the post-natal ward was instigated in 2014 after the previous ward was deemed unsafe and closed for use.
Australia provided approximately SBD1.5 million (AU$247,000) for the works, which included a complete refurbishment of the post-natal ward and paediatric treatment rooms as well as the attached bathroom and kitchen facilities.
More than 6,000 babies (or 40% of all births in Solomon Islands) are born at the National Referral Hospital every year. The rehabilitation of the post-natal ward will allow mothers at risk of post-birth complications to stay overnight at the hospital in order to access extra care if they need it.