Nishimura's Pen

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO THE implementation process of the Women’s division policies and Act under the Ministry of Women Youth Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA) have been hindered by some ‘bumps’. This was reported by Freda Tuki Soriocomua, Minister of the MWYCFA at the recent opening occasion of the Solomon Islands National Women’s Leadership programme in Honiara. Freda Tuki Soriocomua, Minister of the MWYCFA Tuki voiced the encountered challenges in implementing these policies and act rises from different aspects. “These including having few staffs working at the women’s division, geography of our islands – scattered, transportations difficulties, not enough funds to implement women’s activities, traditional and cultural perception on women as a leader, not enough support to family care centre, not enough support to Christian care centre,” she said. However if these challenges are being addressed there wouldn’t be any delay in fulfilling them (policies and...

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO EXCLUSION of women from political and decision making positions has been a challenge to active political engagement in Solomon Islands, says Dr Alice Pollard. Mrs Pollard said the exclusion of women from political leadership and decision making positions is a serious and critical matter for all. “Our absence at the key Political leadership speaks volumes, it is our core business and that is why we are sitting here today,” she said. Dr Alice Pollard Pollard said the story of the Solomon Islands Political history shows that women’s political journey is one struggle, yet of persistence and remaining hopeful. She said figures have shown that women’s political participation is low, it stated that we have only had four successful female candidates in our story and currently four successful female provincial members of three different assemblies. “Our absence at these key political leadership positing means that our voices cannot b...

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO WOMEN’S Right Action Movement (WRAM) a non-governmental organisation in the country have successfully elected its new board members to stir and make sure the organisation has adequate resource to advance its mission and vision. The election was done over the weekend when the organisation had its Annual General Meeting at the Kairos conference room in Honiara. The outcome of the election concluded as Maria Pepa was voted in as the new President, Afulia Billy the vice president, Christina Bakolo as secretary to the board and with five ordinary members. Speaking at the occasion of board members election Ms Pepa the new president said she was honored to be voted in to the presidency post for WRAM board. Ms Pepa uttered all she needed is cooperation and support from WRAM and its members in taking up this responsibility for the next 12 months.   “I‘ll try to do my best to move the institution forward together with the current new boar...

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO FOURTEEN health workers at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) who have recently graduated under the Sydney Children Hospital Programme say they are confident in managing paediatric complexities. This comes as good news for the country, to have locals who can provide quality service in that area under the huge medical-health spectrum. Doctor Gane Simbe    Dr Gane Simbe, who spoke on behalf of the 14 health workers during their graduation last week, said their training adds to their medical and health knowledge and skills, and each of them have come out with boosted confidence in handling paediatric cases. “The material taught made us a bit more confident then yesterday in managing pediatric complications,” said Simbe. He said reducing child mortality is a fundamental millennium development goal set by the United Nations in 2015 and it is this goal that they (health workers) are working toward. “I believe the Sydney C...

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO PERMANENET secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Andrew Nihopara  THE Ministry of Culture and Tourism has discussed the need to establish a Tourism Business Loan Guarantee scheme that would be made available to all tourism and tourism-related businesses. This was revealed to this paper by Andrew Nihopara, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. “Another plan that is current under discussion is the need to establish a Tourism Business Loan Guarantee Scheme that would be available to all tourism and tourism-related businesses. “This will include the existing businesses that required to be upgraded under the Minimum Standards that are currently being rolled out,” he said. Nihopara said the idea behind such approach is to ensure that tourism growth adopts a much more commercial approach that is government grant dependent. “Hence, the incentive packages and the loan guarantee scheme are normal b...

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO Hon. Namson Tran MEMBER of Parliament for West Honiara Constituency Namson Tran has stepped in to support three clinics with medical supplies as the country faces shortage in medicine. Mr Tran rendered support to three clinics under his constituency including Mbokona, Rove Area Health Centre and White River clinic with medical drugs. Yesterday West Honiara Constituency Constituency Development Officer (CDO) Brain Taupiri officially handed over the drugs to nurses in charge of the three clinics. Taupiri says the medical supplies purchased by Tran are only to be distributed amongst the three clinics under his constituency. “These medical supplies donated are basic medications which will provide support to treat patients until the National Medical store is back to normal. “On behalf of Tran he said he acknowledges that this is a national issue, a crisis, a life threatening and the main focus is the National Referral Hospital (NRH...

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO ACTING City Mayor Eddie Ngava has called on members of Parliament to step in and render support in the national issue - medical drug shortage. He expressed this sentiment at the officially handing over of medical supplies by Namson Tran (MP for West Honiara) to three clinics in his constituency. ACTING City Mayor Eddie Ngava Ngava said the donations of the medical drugs are from one MP but if the 49 others step in with the same initiative it will lessen the country’s medical crisis. “Hence I hereby challenge the other Parliamentarians who if on their own way rendered support to our clinics in each of the constituency then we’ll have gone a long way,” he said. The total cost of the medical drugs is $250,000 and this amount of money came directly from Tran’s personal funds, purposely to help address the country’s drug shortage problem. The three clinics Tran supported are Mbokona Clinc, Rove Area Health Centre and Whit River ...