Solomon Islands: Seeking to aid the National Referral Hospital (NRH) with an Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
The Solomon Islands government has taken stringent measures to prevent the deadly coronavirus from reaching the country, including ensuring a Declaration of Public Emergency was brought into force and is being enforced.
To-date there has been no case of coronavirus found in the Solomon Islands after 11 tests proved negative for the disease and there are strict quarantine measures in place.
In the event that a case of coronavirus should occur, and one would hope that it does not, there would most likely be the need for the infected person to be confined in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where the patient could be given constant care, close supervision from life support equipment and medication in order to ensure normal body functions and preserve life.
Unfortunately the National Referral Hospital (NRH) does not have an ICU.
I have been giving much consideration as to how an ICU might be obtained and, in March, I wrote the following piece on Linkedin and sent a copy of my paper to the main media sources in Honiara.
"An Italian design company has teamed up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to create prefabricated intensive care units (ICUs), to deal with escalating numbers of coronavirus patients around the world.
"Coronavirus patients with access to hospital equipment, in particular ICU beds, have a much greater chance of survival
"Carlo Ratti Associati and the MIT Senseable City Lab are looking to address this growing need with ICUs built inside shipping containers, which can be joined together to create mobile field hospitals. They have teamed up with engineering firms, logistic experts and medical equipment suppliers, as part of a non-profit effort, to create the Connected Units for Respiratory Ailments, or CURA. These are designed to be as quick as a tent to put up, but as safe as a hospital with “biocontainment” – a series of safety practices to prevent the spread of disease.
"The structure is quick to assemble and disassemble. Because it is made of shipping containers, it can be moved from epicentre to epicentre by road, rail and ship, within countries and from city to city around the world.
"Once people are admitted to hospital, coronavirus patients require intensive and lengthy treatment; meaning beds are tied up for a number of weeks.
"The non-profit effort behind CURA involves a number of international partners with a range of expertise media."
Today, Wednesday, I took a closer look at CURA and was interested to learn something of the organization and its work in developing countries.
Working in partnership with a local NGO, CURA funds the building of health clinics, including in counties like Uganda in Peru and in several other developing nations where resources are few and the health needs and services vital.
In the hope that either the Solomon Islands government or an NGO in the Solomons would consider asking CURA to help with a health clinics that could be adapted as an ICU at the National Referral Hospital, I have quoted information published on CURA’s international website - http://www.curafortheworld.org/our-model.
Quote:
“We are on a mission to build medical clinics in remote communities in dire need for medical care.
By partnering with other NGOs, CURA for the World will reach 30 developing nations by 2030.”
“CURA for the world is a 501 (c) 3 registered, not-for-profit organization based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. CURA partners with Non-Governmental Organizations (“NGOs”) in developing countries to build CURA Medical Clinics or Centers as a part of a three-fold model, to fight poverty. Our CURA Medical Clinic is designed to provide basic medical aid and medical education including proper hygiene practices.”
“ Our second arm of practice is food security through permaculture.”
“Our third initiative is to address access to clean water through water-wells and diversion of existing water sources.”
“CURA for the world will provide a mentorship model in health education and food security at each CURA partnership site. CURA is focused on supporting and building lasting partnerships in low and middle income countries (LMIC) by providing ways to measure performance indicators and expected results of self-reliance and resilience in order to move every man, woman, and child forward by 2030”.
THE CURA MEDICAL CLINIC
“CURA for the world and the Partnering Organization will partner and collaborate on building a medical clinic to promote the work of the Partner Organization and raise awareness about global health concerns. CURA will provide the Partnering Organization with monetary funding to build the CURA Medical Clinic. However, it is the sole responsibility of the Partner Organization to further develop and fund operations of the CURA Medical Clinic. Such development includes hiring a physician for 1-2 days per week visits, develop fundraising capacity to furnish, stock, and implement in-country standard practices to register the clinic.
CURA for the world will donate the Clinic to the Partner Organization and should be named by example: Partner Organization CURA Medical Clinic or Center.
CURA for the world will provide monetary funding for signage.
CURA for the world will provide a surge medical mission trip to open CURA a Medical Clinic to raise awareness in the community that our Partner Organization serves.
CURA for the world will interview prospective physicians and health care providers during the surge medical mission trip to create an advisory/mentorship relationship moving forward.
CURA for the world will provide an online platform named CURA telehealth as a way of interdisciplinary consultation service.
CURA for the world requires our Partner Organization to provide quarterly medical reports as guided by our templates.”
“CURA chooses an NGO based on their location and needs and partners with them to build a medical clinic that will provide general medicine and minor trauma care.”
“CURA for the world sustain its efforts by donating the clinic to the sister organization in return allowing them to hire a local physician and/or a nurse for triage and treatment for a minimum once/twice a week affordable medical treatment. To provide education to locals regarding basic medical aid, proper hygiene and preventable diseases.
“CURA for the world then creates a surge medical mission trip to open the clinic, providing awareness and creating a lifelong partnership with our sister NGOs as their medical advisors. By receiving Quarterly reports, we are able to analyze their data and provide adequate advice to further their efforts to serve their community. “
HOW TO CONTACT US
“Your privacy is important to CURA for the world, if you have any questions or concerns regarding CURA for the world’s Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
CURA for the world - Email: info@curafortheworld.org “
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
