Pitt St Trust trip to Solomon Island to dedicate infection diseases ward
A group of Pitt St Trust representatives recently travelled to the Solomon Islands to dedicate the infectious diseases ward at the Helena Goldie Hospital in Munda, on New Georgia Island. PItt St Church and Pitt St Trust raised funds to contribute to the construction of this ward.
Solomon Islands Visit 23 April to 1 May 2018
Pitt St Church and the Pitt St Trust celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2016, and undertook as part of that celebration to contribute to the current MCNZ mission project, the completion of an infectious diseases ward at Helena Goldie Hospital in Munda, on New Georgia island in the Solomon Islands. The NZ target was $50,000 and this was contributed by the Pitt St Trust. (Photo: Pitt St Trust representatives with Helena Goldie Hospital staff; David Davies)
The ward was dedicated on 25th April 2018 by MCNZ President Prince Devanandan who was accompanied on his trip to the Solomon Islands by Pitt Street Trust representatives Ronnie Matafeo, David and Barbara Davies. The ward will be opened to patients on completion of some ablution facilities. The contingent also spent time during their trip visiting the Helena Goldie College of Nursing, Moderator and staff of the United Church, Helena Goldie Hospital in Munda, Tabaka Rural Training Centre on nearby Tabaka Island and Goldie College. (Photos: Goldie College pupils, Tabaka Rural Training Centre showers; David Davies)
Some of the lasting impressions left on the Pitt St Trust representatives were of the highly qualified and skilled leadership provided by the women, the head nurse’s pride when she spoke of safely delivering a very premature baby without a reliable incubator, and the reality of the poor ablution facilities for the girls resident at Tabaka Rural Training Centre. (Photo: Goldie College battery power; David Davies)
One of the tangible outcomes of the visit, along with a greater understanding of the Solomon Islands and its mission requirements, has been a Solomon Islands Mission outreach commitment in the annual budget commencing 1 June 2018.