By Eliza Kukutu
National Referral Hospital
Twelve babies were born on New Year’s Day at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara, according to Esther Tausiria, a Clinical Nurse Consultant at the Labour Ward.
This follows 19 births on Christmas Day in 2023.
Ms. Tausiria told SIBC News that the birthrate ranges between 20 to 30 births daily.
She said on average, the National Referral Hospital delivers approximately 400 to 500 babies each month, totaling around 5,000 births annually.
In 2023, 15 babies were born on New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, work on the Australian funded Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre is continuing.
The centre is anticipated to ease some pressure on bed space, staffing and management of resources as the redesigned facility will provide birthing, ante and post-natal care services for women.
It will also include an emergency operating theatre and will provide eye, dental, pathology, x-ray and ultrasound services, and a community-based pharmacy.
A statement by the government recently said, the redesigned 34-bed facility will significantly improve health outcomes for Solomon Islanders by providing high quality care in a modern, durable building.
ENDS////
By Alex Dadamu
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