Vital medical supplies arrive in Gizo

A consignment of vital medical supplies dispatched on board the RSIPV Gizo arrived in Gizo, Western Province today.

The supplies were critical to bolster medical operations in the impacted communities following last week’s Category 5 tropical cyclone Maila.

Chair of the National Disaster Council (NDC), David Hiba Hiriasia, said the NDC Health Sector Committee is coordinating closely with Provincial Health Authorities in Western and Choiseul Provinces to dispatch vital medical supplies to the most affected areas as relief operations continue.

“We are coordinating closely with Provincial Health authorities to ensure critical medical supplies are dispatched promptly to the affected communities,” Hiriasia said.

A total of ten clinics and medical centres across Western Province were reportedly damaged.

A situation report from the Western Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (WPEOC) this week highlighted that Provincial Health Authorities have been mobilised to assess the worst-hit areas, including the Islands of Simbo, Rannonga and Vella La Vella.

Health services in these areas, as well as others, have been severely affected after the Islands were battered last week by Cyclone Maila.

Provincial Health authorities in the Western Province are also activating surveillance and monitoring of reported cases of disease amongst the affected communities.

[end]

GCU statement