EMU Harbour Area Health Centre is the only health outlet that serves people in the central and north Ranoggah for many years.
But for nearly 20 years water and lack of space are problems that affected the services being provided at the health centre.
Area Health Supervisor Lawrence Tonowane has been there for the last five years.
He told the Solomon Star last week the health centre is in dire need of reliable water supply.
He said there’s piped water that supplies the Emu Harbour community.
But because the pressue was too weak, it was unable to reach the health centre.
The health centre had proper plumbing inside.
"But due to poor pressure no water is coming through," he said.
Mr Tonowane said even a water tank to supplement the water shortage is not able to be provided for the past years despite appeals to leaders.
"A water tank is our immediate need now," he said.
Mr Tonowane has three other staff – a mid-wife and two assistant nurses – working at the health centre.
He said the centre sees between 20-25 patients on average on a daily basis and attend to general medical health services to emergency cases.
Malaria tests are also being conducted with a full time Malaria lab techicians working with them.
There are students on practical attachments every year and that has also helped ease their demand.
The centre operates a 24 hour service and acts as a mini-hospital.
It caters for patient admissions.
If cases get worse they refer them to Gizo.
Birth deliveries are also being done at the centre, Mr Tonowane said.
Last year about 33 births were recorded.
Mr Tonowane said the figure is small compared to the two previous years, where they recorded around 50.
He said they referred delivery cases of mothers who have twins or any suspected complications to Gizo.
They have a nurse on call after hours.
Water problem
But fetching water from the nearby stand pipe through kettles and bucket is a hurdle for the health workers.
"We have to collect water in kettles and bucket daily to do general clean up and also wash up the linens which have blood stains," he said.
He said at most times washing of linens are done at the nearby stand pipe, which is several metres away.
"This is not healthy at all because the stand pipes are being used by the community too," he said.
During deliveries, water had to be collected from buckets to help the mother wash up.
"It’s time-consuming for us to fetch water and this affects our services here," he said.
He said the facilities aren't up to standards and it affects their quality of service delivery at the centre plus lack of water.
Lack of Space
Emu Health Centre has also space problem because in the last decade there was no expansion.
The Health Centre was established as an aide post by the Emu Harbour Community before being upgraded to Rural Health Centre.
In 1996 it was upgraded to an Area Health Centre status.
But then there was no expansion over the years, while the population continues to increase.
Currently, the centre has a general outpatient area, an office, a general ward, a post and anti-natal ward and delivery ward.
Mr Tonowane said that in most cases, female and male are sharing one ward which is not right.
He said malaria lab technician had to share a room with the dressing room and consultation area and there was no privacy for the patient because the technician can hear the conversations between nurses and patients.
The supervisor said there are still enough land infront of the centre and expanding the current building is urgent.
"Funding is a problem but I hope the relevant authorities will see the need to expand," he said.
As the population increases, the need for expansion is important for the people, he added.
Apart from Emu, there are three rural health centres and two nurse aide posts around Ranoggah.
But Mr Tonowane said there should be other health centres built on the island.
"Not only that we need more medical workers because this is not like in the past where the demand for medical services is required in the rural areas," he said.
Currently the Emu Harbour community is supporting the Area Health Centre through the construction of homes.
He said the community is responble for building homes for the nursing staff and also maintenance of the centre.
"It’s a struggle by the community but they hav done their part," he said.
Fundraisings are currently underway to build additional staff houses.
There are two permanent staff houses and a semi-permanent one.
For Mr Tonowane, he is living in a house left by the Area Assembly Officer (AAO), which was renovated.
One house which was built was not completed due to lack of funding.
"The community is currently raising funds to complete it," he said.
As for general patients, whenever they visited the clinic they also make freewill donations towards the health centre.
Mr Tonowane said the donation meets the stationary requirements of the clinic and other basic needs.
The Western Provincial Health Division only provides medical stock and fuel.
He said there was no actual budget allocation for the health centre.
"Therefore we have to support ourselves where possible," he said.
Mr Tonowane is hoping that some donors or the government see their need to upgrade the centre to a mini hospital to serve the growing population on Ranoggah.
Ranoggah/Simbo is under the Parliamentary care of Minister of Commerce Francis Billy who also came from Emu Harbour.
By MOFFAT MAMU
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