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CLINIC IN BARAULU Due to recent ethnic unrest and attendant breakdown of governmental services in the Solomon Islands, the economic and sanitary conditions of Roviana and Vonavona communities have greatly deteriorated. Many families have migrated back to the villages, putting more pressure on the subsistence economy and local natural and social resources. This economic hardship has truncated the capacity of local communities to find sufficient funds for conducting community projects independently. Other means of assistance are nonexistent. For example, the predominant churches in the Western Province have never assisted CFC communities in Roviana and Vonavona with development projects because of their animosity towards CFC religious doctrine. At Baraulu, for instance, only the water supply project conducted in 1999 was partly funded by the Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Division (Western Province). All other local initiatives have been funded and implemented by the community itself. During the summer of 2001, we applied for, and got, a grant from the New Zealand High Commission to build a clinic in Baraulu Village. The community's request for a village clinic was based on the following premises: 1. Baraulu Village is located about 25 km from Helena Goldie Hospital (HGH), Munda, which is about 45-minutes travel by outboard motor (15 HP OBM). In order to get medical attention, a trip to HGH costs at least $200 SBD in canoe rental fees and petrol costs. The effect of the ethnic tension has further worsened this situation by driving up fuel prices. Sources of income generation, moreover, have been gravely affected, particularly local employment opportunities (the closing of Taiyo) and the present depression of copra prices. 2. Of all Roviana communities, Baraulu recorded the highest number of people admitted to the HGH in 1999. Between1999-2000, more than three hundred people at Baraulu were admitted. Also during this period, Baraulu recorded the highest number of malaria cases in the lagoon. 3. Currently, Baraulu has a rate of at least ten malaria cases per week and at least four trips to HGH per week have to be made to take people to the hospital. Thus, it is estimated that Baraulu people spends at least $43,000 SBD per year in transport expenses. This figure doubles if we include expenses incurred by neighboring communities to travel to HGH. Economic costs, however, are surpassed by human costs: in recent years several people have died for lack of sea transport to speedily transfer people to the HGH. The Baraulu community clinic will not only assist Baraulu and adjacent settlements, but also cater to Nusa Hope, Olive, Ha'apai, and Sasavele villages, thus covering the basic medical needs of several thousand people. This project will benefit around 900 people in Baraulu and more than 3,000 people from the neighboring villages. Presently, the clinic is being built and additional funds will be provided by the Packard Foundation to complete the work. Particular benefits of this project include: (1) villagers will get medical attention quickly at no, or least lower cost, (2) an increase in the probability of saving lives, and (3) school children and women will have easy access to the medical facility. The Baraulu community and we hope to accomplish the following in the next five years: 1. The clinic will come under a new governing body. The Baraulu Health
Committee will be formed to look after the operation of the clinic and
health welfare of the community. |