SBD$27M Birthing Facility Construction underway in Honiara

$27M Birthing Facility

Construction of new urban birthing facility underway in Honiara

BY ESTHER NURIA Honiara Solomon Islands

Giving birth to an unborn child poses a huge survival risk for women and mothers and the chances of survival of either the mother or the baby is uncertain and cannot possibly be guaranteed. In developing countries like the Solomon Islands where most health centers around the country are ill equipped and at most times lack the necessary capabilities, a hundred percent guarantee of a successful childbirth is always uncertain. The need for advanced birthing facilities within urban centres in Solomon Islands is necessary to ensure women and mothers and even families are treated with better healthcare services. In the Solomon Islands, communities situated at distant proximity to urban healthcare centres are the most vulnerable since they receive less or no medical attention at all. Access to adequate health services in the country is a major challenge therefore the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Solomon Islands has set out to change this and

better improve the facilities at urban healthcare centres. This article features the newly proposed Naha birthing unit that will be located at the east of Honiara, which is now under construction. The new birthing unit itself will be a gamechanging development that will serve a lot of people especially in the eastern part of Honiara, an area which is mostly densely populated. In an exclusive interview with PT Magazine; the contractor Mr. Pethwel Bako Dua described the building which his company has been contracted to build as an important health facility that should be located at both the Eastern, Central and Western centres of Honiara. Mr. Bako said building an SBD$27 Million birthing facility is a first of its kind for his company, compared to its size and financing. Pethwel described the day he got the news that he had won the contract as the day he had been assigned to a very important yet tough task and that he had to deliver not only for his company but for the sake of the people who would benefit

from the facility. “I feel like winning a scholarship to study at a university. This particular contract is a stepping stone for my company. At the moment we at the early stages of the contract which we’re digging up the trenches for the foundation of the building. My team are looking foward to achieving our objectives within the proposed time-frame and slowing down is not an option untill we’ve reached the final stages of construction,” Pethwel said. He described this particular construction as a much bigger contract for his construction company

and they have increased labor and have certain materials sourced from overseas including tiles and finishings, which as he claims are durable and long lasting. Bako said the birthing unit is expected to be completed within an 18-month period and by December 2020 it should be completed and delivered to the Ministry of Health and Medical services. Bako Constructions’ Group started in 1995 and had been operating for the past 25 years. “Running a contract is not an easy task, but is always essential to remain committed and responsible towards all building contracts. As a contractor we work within bidding amounts that we provide for each particular tender or contract we secure. We have to be consistent and honest with the

costs and fulfill all the expectation stipulated in the contract. “My Company has managed to stay afloat for this long despite the increase in competition because of the commitment and professionalism I have always maintained in my work and towards my clients. Construction is indeed a challenging business and I encourage other building contractors to always caution the amount of money they spend during actual construction work and not to second guess each decision which might ruin your reputation,” said Mr. Bako. Naha Clinic Nurse in Charge Mr. Robert Fugui said, the Naha birthing unit was one of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services plans to help communities in rural and urban areas to have better

access to quality and much needed healthcare service which the government can offer. “Very soon residents living within the Eastern side of Honiara will no longer have to travel all the way to the to the National Referral Hospital to give birth, instead go to a nearby facility for normal delivery,” said Fugui. When spoken to PT Magazine residents living within Naha area expressed excitement and gratitude towards the government and the Australian Government for realizing the need and urgency of such facility. “It is exciting news because this facility will soon be accessible in our community. More especially access to better services for our women,” said Rose a mother living at Naha area. •