Isolation& Triage at Nila AHC is now resourced: PM

THE isolation and triage at Nila Area Health Centre, Shortland Islands have now been resourced, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says.

Speaking during his nationwide address this week, the Prime Minister said all required materials including beddings, lights and all other necessary Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) products are now available at Nila.

“Having triage and isolation ward right at the border is critical in our efforts to contain and prevent the entry and spread of COVID-19 at the western border,” he said.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that all area health centers and clinics around the Shortland’s have also been supplied with necessary IPC products, such as detergents and other clinical equipment including stationaries.

He said this is to ensure business continuity amidst prioritization of COVID-19.

As for Malaita province, the Prime Minister said work has progressed to have testing capabilities at the Kilufií Hospital.

“The Government is of the view that having adequate numbers of COVID-19 lab staff is important to prevent fatigue and maintain quality of work output,”

He said as soon as safety requirements for COVID-19 testing machine in Malaita province are in place, the laboratory personnel and bio medic technicians in Honiara will be deployed to Kilufií, Hospital.

“Installation and training on the Gene-Xpert machine to perform COVID-19 testing and biosafety cabinet will be undertaken for Kilufií Hospital staff. This is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to ensure that COVID-19 readiness is decentralized to the provinces in terms of both capacity and capability,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sogavare said he was pleased to note that the Government through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has also undertaken training for two more local lab staff to undergo COVID-19 testing recently.

Additionally, the Prime Minister said 13 new recruits have also signed their contracts last week and are being earmarked for the molecular testing.

“The Government is of the view that having adequate numbers of COVID-19 lab staff is important to prevent fatigue and maintain quality of work output,” he said.

ENDS//