Help for Solomon Islands hospital

A young soccer fan is excited to receive his own soccer ball. From left: Peter Manaesi (uncle); Senior Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd; Eddie Kaumae (six); Detective David Scarr and Paediatric Clinical Nurse Consultant Ruth Soso.

Staff and patients at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, Solomon Islands have benefited from a delivery of medical supplies and other material thanks to the joint effort of government agencies and corporate organisations from New Zealand.

Wellington-based Senior Constable Dean Gifford sourced two van loads of medical supplies, cleaning products, clothing, sports equipment, toys and stationery, which were handed over to the grateful recipients by colleagues in the Solomons last month.

This consignment of items was the third sent to the Solomon Islands as part of an initiative by Dean.

RAMSI Participating Police Force (PPF) members Detective David Scarr and Senior Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd, currently based in Honiara, delivered the goods.

“Dean has never been to the Solomon Islands, but has an amazing awareness of the needs of others, particularly the underprivileged,” says David, a police colleague also from Wellington.

From left: PPF Advisor Detective David Scarr; Julie Zinihite, Principal Pharmacist National Referral Hospital; Elizabeth Sanau, Clinical Nurse Consultant (GP Clinic); and PPF Advisor Senior Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd with goods donated to the hospital. Photos: ppf media

“He has personally approached companies and organisations around Wellington, and they have responded extremely generously.”

National Referral Hospital’s Principal Pharmacist Julie Zinihite received the many boxes of medical supplies, which included an x-ray lighting machine, medical instruments, dressings, and disposable clothing.

“Thank you so much for your kind donation. I know all these items will be well used, and will go a long way to making the staff’s work a lot easier,”
she said.

Sick youngsters experienced a little sunshine in their day when the PPF team later visited the hospital’s paediatric and orthopaedic wards and handed out sports balls, toys and colouring-in books and pencils.

“It is a privilege to have been able to assist Dean in carrying out his project,” says Kelvin, who is from Dunedin.

A large quantity of medical items was also taken by air to a grateful Buala Hospital, in the Santa Isabel province.