The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), through its Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (RWASH) Program, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Western Provincial Government, will host a major No Open Defecation (NOD) celebration in Western Province next week.
The event will be held from 27th to 30th October 2025 with visits to some of the communities which have successfully implemented the project.
The event aims to recognize and celebrate seven (7) communities that have successfully achieved and sustained No Open Defecation status — three on Kolombangara Island and four on Ranongga Island.
According to MHMS, the celebration will showcase community leadership and progress under the National Sanitation Sustainability Plan (NSSP), which focuses on improving health, hygiene, and sanitation outcomes across the country.
The NOD celebration will be attended by key dignitaries, including representatives from DFAT, UNICEF, the Permanent Secretary of Health and Medical Services, the Chief of Field for UNICEF Solomon Islands, the Premier of Western Province, and other provincial and community leaders.
To support effective media coverage, MHMS confirmed that all travel, accommodation, and subsistence allowances for the visiting media team will be covered by the event organizers.
The ministry said, media participation is vital in capturing and sharing the success stories of these communities, raising public awareness, and encouraging continued commitment to sanitation and hygiene across Solomon Islands.
The MHMS and its partners expressed their appreciation for the collaborative effort between government, communities, and development partners, emphasizing that the celebration marks a significant milestone in improving rural sanitation.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
