Figure 1 Women and men from Kindu Community carrying gifts of crop foods
MUNDA, NORO & SURROUNDING NORTH NEW GEORGIA VONA VONA LAGOON COMMUNITIES GRATEFUL FOR NEW AND IMPROVED HOSPITAL FACILITIES
Communities in and around the Munda, Noro and North New Georgia Vona Vona Lagoon showed their appreciation and gratitude towards the newly renovated Helena Goldie Hospital, Isolation Unit and Noro Area Health Center Incinerator by presenting tradition gifts to the National Government, the World Bank and various stakeholders involved in the hospital improvement projects during the handover ceremony on Friday 11th April.
Communities from Kindu, Dunde, Kekehe and Noro brought traditional root crops of yam, taro, potato, fish and three pigs to show their appreciation and gratitude for the new hospital facilities.
Community members of each group while handing over the gifts expressed their deepest heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the new hospital facilities.
“The Helena Goldie Hospital serves a lot of communities here in Munda and the surrounding villages in the Roviana Lagoon and Marovo. Seeing these improved quality health facilities here at our doorsteps brings joy to us. I believe we will no longer travel to Gizo Hospital to access some of the much-needed services or even National Referral Hospital in Honiara because these new facilities will provide some of the essential services for our people. And for that we are grateful”, stated one of the community elders when handing the gifts.
Meanwhile, one of the long-time resident members living in Munda, a retired teacher Mrs. Teva Nongebatu also shared her joy and appreciation towards the National Government and the World Bank for the new hospital facilities.
“Accessing healthcare services is what we always seek when reaching old age. Therefore, seeing these new facilities brings joy and hope knowing that our future generation will have access to a better healthcare services and I for one I’m so grateful”, said Mrs. Nongebatu.
Meanwhile, each representative from each of the communities came forward and present gifts to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, World Bank and the contractors Super Construction and JED Construction.
The handing over ceremony included plaque unveiling, cutting of ribbons, and tour led by the World Bank Project Management Unit Infrastructure team and the Helena Goldie Hospital Superintendent and Noro Area health Center Head Nurse.
The officials and guests who attended the event were also amazed to witness the traditional custom dances from the Western Province and traditional items from communities around Munda.
The Helena Goldie Hospital was built by the first Methodists Missionaries in 1903. It serves more than 30, 000 people living in the surrounding communities in North New Georgia Vona Vona Lagoon, Roviana Lagoon, Rendova and as far as Ghaetokae in Marovo.
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Figure 2 One of the communities present gift food crops and pig to the JED Contractors
Figure 3 Helena Goldie Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Raymond Dickson present a gift to Ministry of Health Project Management Unit Manager Mr Harry Kereseka
Figure 4 An elderly woman from one of the communities carrying a basket of gift
Figure 5 Women entertainment group performing at the event
Figure 6 Warrior dancers performing at the event