10 November 2023
In the lead-up to the Pacific Games 2023, Australian and Fijian soldiers from the Solomon’s International Assistance Force (SIAF) attended the first anniversary of the Burns Creek Medical Facility situated on the outskirts of Honiara.
Restored by the Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF), the facility enables patients from across Honiara to receive regular health check-ups and potential lifesaving intervention from deadly diseases such as Malaria and Dengue Fever.
Royal Australian Navy nursing officer Lieutenant John Townsend said the medical facility upgrade was part of a broad range of assistance measures designed to support local communities and the Solomon Islands Government.
“Through SIAF, we have been able to support projects such as the medical facility upgrade, where our medics assisted with back of house administration and technical expertise,” Lieutenant Townsend said.
“We’ve also assisted the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force with preparing a first-aid training package that can be exported across the force and used to support the community.”
The scheduled visit of Australian Defence Vessel Reliant to Honiara was also community focused and, while the ship delivered stores to SIAF members preparing for the Pacific Games, it also provided a timely opportunity for Australia to support Solomon Islands’ response to Tropical Cyclone Lola.
The remote outer islands of Tikopia and Anuta, in Solomon Islands’ Temotu Province, experienced significant damage to housing, food crops and water supply infrastructure when Tropical Cyclone Lola passed over the province in late October.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) First Secretary Kellie Raab said the HADR supplies delivered by the ADV Reliant were handed over to Solomon Islands Red Cross to support its response and recovery efforts in Temotu and to replenish in-country supplies.
“With the cyclone season now officially under way, we need to be ready to support Solomon Islands and partners like the Red Cross so they can provide relief to affected communities,” Ms Raab said.
“In this instance, we were able to provide a container of emergency supplies to the Solomon Islands Red Cross, which enables them to be prepared and ready for future events.”
