Additional medical personnel to be sent to Solomon Islands’ Western Province

The Solomon Islands government is sending another medical team to the Western Province today to provide some relief for doctors and nurses who have been working long hours since the tsunami struck last week.

The government’s director of communications, Alfred Maesulia, says many medical staff were themselves affected by the disaster and lost their homes.

He also says many people remain in temporary relief camps in the hills above Gizo and on higher land in the outer islands because they’re worried about the possibility of another tsunami.

Health workers and NGOs are assisting with the digging of pit latrines to prevent an outbreak of disease while water purification tablets and water containers are now arriving at the camps.

Mr Maesulia says the medical team will leave Honiara today.

“We have doctors being sent out, deployed to the Western Province. And, there are also plans to send more medical personnel to the Western Province. I understand there is a team going out to Choiseul, not only doctors but we also have health workers to go and assist those people.”

Meanwhile, reports from Gizo revealed that medical teams in Gizo are fighting outbreaks of malaria and dysentery in the aftermath of the recent tsunami that hit the region.

Radio Australia stated that all those with major injuries have been treated and airlifted but there are at least one thousand people living in tents. Some in are in backyards in churches, but most are in camps.

Medical teams are now dealing with the symptoms of lots of people living in close confined quarters, diarrohea, malaria and sores and cuts that just won't heal. To make matters worse its been raining all day with little sign of letting up.

Source: RNZI