09.03.2009

OLIVETI CLINIC PROJECT

SPECIAL NEWS EDITION

Friday, 30 June 2017

 OLIVETI CLINIC PROJECT
- SPECIAL EDITION NEWS

Rotary club of Rockhampton Fitzroy team members are at Brisbane international airport this morning Friday, 30 June 2017. The team is departing for Oliveti village to complete the Oliveti clinic project buildings. This will be the new Oliveti Rural Health Clinic in Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands. It may be the Final Frontier of health services in Lauru Island (Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands). Choiseul Provincial Health Service will own, manage and staff the new clinic when it is completed. Rotary Club of Rockhampton Fitzroy is the sponsor that will complete the building project.

This project is a very good example of Community-Based Participatory project. The people of Oliveti village identified the need, and triggered the creation of a vision for the project. The vision for the Oliveti clinic was triggered by health challenges in the Oliveti village. Oliveti village is the most inland village in Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands. It usually take 5 - 6 hours to walk from the coast to Oliveti village. Such walk involves crossing the Vachu river, longest river in Choiseul Province, several times. Thus, it is not possible to travel when the river is flooded. Such situation has been a great challenge for patients, and families in Oliveti village for years. For example, at times the river would flood so patients and families would not access the healthcare in health clinics 5 - 6 hours away on the coast. Sadly, many patients die because they couldn't cross the flooded river. Complicated by the distance to access primary healthcare. Thus, the Chief, and people of Oliveti village have been visioning a clinic in the village for years.

The idea to create and kickstart the Olivet clinic project commenced in 2012. When the Oliveti clinic project was born the late Chief of Oliveti village said to a local Lauru Volunteer Leader who visited the Chief, "Ko vakava loka mata mami" ( You dry the tears from our eyes). That statement was a cultural expression with depths of cultural meanings. The project got momentum in 2013. It was the late Chief of Oliveti village who was instrumental in the early stage of the project, with the help from some villages in Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands. Some villages from all the three constituencies of Choiseul Province help in the project over the years. Lauru people utilise cultural governance, religious networks, and traditional communication skills to get help for the project. Yes, Lauru locals have been using multiple strategies to get help for the Oliveti clinic project. As the project progressed, more villages in Lauru Island (Choiseul Province) gave resources , including money, and labour for the project.

It seems that the Oliveti clinic project belongs to wider Lauru people in Choiseul Province. It is humbling, yet encouraging to observe the very high degree of community-based participation in wider Lauru communities in Choiseul Province. Lauru people do not have much resources but they continue to share the limited resources that they have to help the remotest village in Lauru in need of a clinic. Yes, Oliveti clinic project gets support from many communities in Lauru Island (Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands). For example, local Volunteers from United church, and SDA church villages have been helping Oliveti village on the project. This is a community project that involves some communities in Choiseul Province to help the remotest inland village in Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands.

In addition, some Lauru wantoks in Honiara have been providing help for the project for sometime. Thank you to the Lauru wantoks in Honiara. Some Lauru wantoks in Honiara provide resources, and advices that really help in improving plans for the project. Your support means a lot to the Oliveti clinic project and the people of Oliveti village. Thank you Lauru Honiara wantoks.

There were great challenges during the early stages of the project. Fund was a major problem. Local communities needed extra help, financial help. Villagers planned, and designed the clinic building plus the staff house. Local Lauru villages put up the roofing, walls, flooring, et cetera for the clinic building. The outside walls, and roofing of the staff house were built too. Then, the project slowed by 2015 and 2016, due to inadequate funds. Locals searched for years far, and wide for extra help in order to complete the dream project - Oliveti clinic project. Fortunately, Rotary Club of Rockhampton Fitzroy, in Queensland, Australia responded generously in late 2016. Rotary Club of Rockhampton Fitzroy sent Barry Tennent to visit Oliveti clinic project at Oliveti village for the first time on Thursday, 01 December 2016. Barry arrived at Taro and continue to travel to Oliveti village the same day. The Rotary team has been willing to pick the project, and continue with the support of the local communities. This approach help to develop capacities, and empower local communities in Lauru, and the people of Oliveti village. About 2.50 tonnes of building supplies arrived in Honiara, Solomon Islands from Australia on Thursday, 25 May 2017. Thank you very much, Rotary Club of Rockhampton Fitzroy in Rockhampton city, Queensland, Australia for sponsoring the completion of the Oliveti clinic project.

The Rotary team leaves Australia today Friday, 30 June 2017. The photo below shows the six (6) Rotary members at Brisbane international airport who left for Oliveti village today. The team includes Builders, Electricians, and Plumbers, under the leadership of Barry Tennent. Barry has great experiences in Solomon Islands, and in other overseas projects. You can learn more about the Rotary Club of Rockhampton Fitzroy on the club's Facebook page.

Barry Tennent has top class project management skills. He was awarded Humanitarian service award in Australia by Rotary. Barry plans projects so that local people who receive help are active participants in local projects. Local people involve in decision making, and involve in doing whatever they can do to help themselves. It is about helping locals to help themselves. Tagio tumas Barry.

Tagio sakata (Thank you very much) Rotary Club of Rockhampton Fitzroy.

The Rotary Club of Rockhampton Fitzroy will arrive at Taro on Sunday, 02 July 2017. Some local Volunteers from Lauru Island are now waiting at Oliveti village to help on the project. All the plans are set for the project, so far.

... THE END ...

OLIVETI CLINIC PROJECT       2016 - 2019       All Rights Reserved

Website Design:   www.takonahealth.com.au