Review Team Members: National consultant Ethel Sigimanu, Julie Bowen, Louisa Fakaia and two other national consultants Rev Dr Cliff Bird and Dr George Malefoasi
Provincial Consultations for Review of the National Health Strategic Plan 2016-2020 successfully completed
Provincial consultations as part of review of the National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP) 2016-2021 to inform the development of the new NHSP 2022 t0 2026, successfully completed as of this week.
In the past weeks, the review team comprising of Ms Louisa Fakaia, Manager of the Partnership Coordination Unit, MHMS Policy and Planning Department, Ms Julie Bowen, DFAT team leader in the MHMS and 3 external local consultants were deployed to the provinces for the review. Two other international consultants involved in the review also provided the necessary support.
National Consultant Ethel Sigimanu (right) for the NHSP 2016-2020 conducting interviews with Heads of departments, Kilufi, Hospital as part of the review
The provincial review involved interviews with Provincial Governments, health workers, churches, NGOs as health services providers, and site field visits and observations of health service delivery at various levels from hospital to area health and rural centres and clinics, observations of health service delivery. Additionally, interviews were also held with community focus groups such as women and youth, disability and minority as the receivers and users of health services. Consultations were also held with health partners mainly the International Non-Government Organization and Churches.
Observing pharmacy and vaccine cold chain as part of the review
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) Mrs. Pauline McNeil highlighted that the provincial consultation are a critical component in the overall NHSP review process to ensure inclusivity and as much as possible to generate information at all levels from those providing health services as well as those receiving the services.
“Sincere thank you to each and every-one, who had supported, participated and contributed towards the consultations. Your feedback, comments and inputs into the review
are invaluable as these will inform, shape and define the new NHSP 2022-2026 and to have its key investment plans aligned to the new NHSP. The information on the ground will ensure to reflect particular circumstance and complexities of Solomon Islands, based on available evidences and have wide engagement amongst stakeholders in the development process. This including communications and implementation and monitoring mechanism in place to track progress against goals and targets and inform corrective actions if needed”, explained Mrs. McNeil.
Given the current busyness space of the Ministry of Health, the current NHSP has been given extension of one year thus the review of the current NHSP being done and now completed at the third quarter of 2020.
NHSP 2016-2020 review team also paid courtesy visits to provincial premiers during their provincial consultation trips to inform of about
NHSP is the overarching health framework of the government identifying how MHMS delivers on a range of substantive policies relating to business of health including the government’s DCGA policy priorities in health over the years.
Consultations with youths in Buala, Isabel Province on their experiences with health services
It defines MHMS’s overall goal, vision and mission and outlines the organizational policy priorities, required to improve the Ministry’s internal functions and operations so that it is better able to achieve the substantive policies for Solomon Islanders, which is central to fulfilling MHMS vision statement of a healthy, happy and productive Solomon Islands.
Next phase is the write up with the review report. The team is aiming to complete the review of the NHSP by November 2020 as per the review scheduled. The MHMS acknowledges the assistance of DFAT and WHO for providing the necessary financial support towards this good course.