The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Solomon Islands, through its Demand Generation for Immunisation Project (DGIP) has successfully completed a one-day workshop for Church Leaders and Community Health Champions in the Western Province.
The training was held at Kukudu Headquarter in Western Sub-Region of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Kolobangara Island on Tuesday 16 September 2025.
The training was aimed to encourage church leaders and community health champions to highlight their achievements and reinforce the importance of immunisation within churches and communities they represented.
The training was funded by UNICEF through the DGIP project and implemented by ADRA Solomon Islands.
A total of 24 church leaders and Community Health Champions from South Vela Island, North Kolobangara and Roviana Lagoon attended the training.
ADRA DGIP project staff, Zohra Nisar Hunzai, UNICEF’s Social & Behaviour Change Specialist, facilitated the workshop through zoom from Honiara with the help of Health Promotion Officer from the Western Provincial Government.
Theme of the training was “Revisiting Church Leaders and Community Champions on Health Initiatives and Promoting Health and Well-being through Faith-based Actions.”
Opening the program, DGIP Project Manager Sharon Kele, thanked participants for prioritising the training despite their busy schedules.
“This workshop was to share important messages about vaccines and health so that you, as leaders, can go back and pass them on to your communities and churches. I commended you all for your effort since this program was commenced”
“I would like to thank you for the achievements you have made so far in influencing your communities, especially women and girls, to access health services.
“Let’s continue to work together with the Ministry of Health to raise awareness on immunisation so that women and girls can receive proper health checks and understand the importance of immunization,” she added.
District Director of the SDA Church in Kolokolo, South Vela, Pr. Tanaka Belo, also expressed appreciation:
“Thank you, ADRA, for this workshop, which enables us as church leaders to share vital health messages with our congregations, especially about the importance of immunisation for women and girls,” Pr. Belo said.
Retired Medical Officer and ADRA Community Health Champion in North Kolobangara, Stivo Boso, highlighted the program’s positive impact.
“Through this project, many young girls and women in our communities have come to understand the importance of immunisation, and despite some hesitancy, most have decided to get vaccinated,” he said.
Daniel Zamae Community Health Champion from Patmos Village in Roviana Lagoon, confirmed that all girls in his village have received their vaccinations.
“I would like to confirm here during this training that all the girls in our village, including women, have received their vaccinations during implementation of this program’’
He added that the village had been visited by doctors and nurses through ADRA’s program, which made it possible for all girls in Patmos to be vaccinated.
Church leaders representing SDA, SSEC, United Church, ACOM, and CFC also took part in the training, reflecting strong collaboration between faith communities and health initiatives.
This project was funded by UNICEF and was part of ADRA Solomon Islands’ ongoing commitment to strengthen community health, empower faith leaders, and support the Ministry of Health in improving immunisation coverage across the country.
-ADRA
Photo Caption: Participants including facilitator of the training pose for photo after the training in Kukudu. Photo ADRA COMS.
