TAX-PAYERS through the Member of Parliament (MP) for Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency (NWGC) Francis Sade, has supported Marara Area Health Centre (AHC) with a new Toyota Hilux vehicle.
MP Sade who is also the Minister for Public Service handed over the Hilux to the clinic Monday this week.
This support directly addresses the critical transport challenges that have hampered the clinic’s operations since its establishment.
Held at the Marara AHC, the ceremony was celebrated as a historic milestone for the health centre, with expectations to benefit not only the constituents of NWGC but also neighbouring communities, including those in West Guadalcanal, who rely on the centre for medical referrals.
The provision of the vehicle came in swift response to a formal request made by the Marara AHC staff to Hon. Sade just a week prior.
The staff had highlighted how the lack of reliable transport was severely impacting their ability to serve their communities effectively.
Upon receiving the request, Hon. Sade committed to finding a solution. Leveraging his privileges as a Member of Parliament through the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), he successfully secured the vehicle to meet the health centre’s most urgent needs.
During the handover ceremony, Hon. Sade explained that the staff’s honest appeal during his recent visit to the clinic motivated him to act promptly.
“In fact, our constituency office is already planning to acquire a Land Cruiser for this AHC, and we have the budget allocated for it,” Hon. Sade said.
“However, the process through our Constituency Development Fund (CDF) can be slow. Fortunately, the government had an arrangement, sanctioned by the Cabinet, to distribute vehicles used during the Pacific Islands Forum meeting. I took that opportunity to request a vehicle for Marara AHC.”
“The most important thing is that you now have a vehicle to perform your work efficiently as you serve our people and communities across the constituency,” Hon. Minister Sade stated while emphasising the core objective of the donation.
Hon. Sade also underscored the need for proper asset management. “This is a government asset, and I urge you all to look after it and use it strictly for its intended purpose.
“Our constituency office will step in to support with future repairs and other necessary needs as they arise,” he affirmed.
Hon. Minister Sade further emphasized that the new vehicle will significantly enhance the health centre’s mobile clinic operations, allowing health officers to better serve high-risk populations and remote communities that face challenges accessing improved health services.
The donation was met with profound gratitude and relief by the health centre’s staff. Dr. Mark Tatea, the Supervisory Medical Officer for Zone One which covers Burns Creek to Lambi.
“We have been struggling without transport, and it has deeply affected our work. Some of our staff face commutes of one to three buses just to reach the clinic. Our community outreach programs were stopped, and we have been unable to conduct effective health awareness visits.
“Today, on behalf of my fellow nurses and doctors, I extend our deepest thanks to Honourable Sade and his office for this vital support. This vehicle will undoubtedly alleviate our transport crisis and enhance our service delivery,” Dr. Tatea said.
The event was also attended by Dr. Rayboy Seleso, the Guadalcanal Provincial Health Director, who represented the Provincial Headquarters.
Dr. Seleso also acknowledged the national Government through MP Sade for the timely assistance.
“Marara AHC falls under the jurisdiction of Guadalcanal Province, and I would like to thank the MP and Minister for Public Service, Honourable Sade, for his strong support.
“The staff here are not only serving your constituency but the wider population of Guadalcanal. This vehicle will significantly boost our provincial health efforts,” Dr. Seleso said.
The Northwest Guadalcanal Constituency is committed to fostering sustainable development and improving the quality of life for its people through strategic investments in key sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) commended Hon. Sade for the initiative and urged the beneficiaries to maintain the vehicle and use it responsibly to serve rural populations.
The MRD continues to encourage all 50 constituency offices to work closely with their MPs to ensure the effective implementation of development plans at the community level.
– MRD
