Health reform or military coup – the Solomon Islands in 2000
I discovered myself in the center of a military coup in Honiara, capital from the Solomon Islands in 2000. It had been the actual factor, gunshots over the top from the Honiara supermarket around 3 pm, along with a lockdown in the training center where I had been attempting to educate strategy development to several senior public servants. The chain-wire fence didn’t inspire confidence because of its bullet stopping power once we cowered within the masonry toilet block.
One results of my visit was probably the most outstanding strategy documents I’ve ever seen. An agenda to change the supply of health services for that nation was created through the Deputy Director of Health throughout the chaos of the military coup.
2 days once i steered clear of on among the last planes to depart Honiara, the Malaitan Bald eagle Pressure taken law enforcement gunboat and also the Pm, while using gunboat to covering bunkers occupied through the opposition IFM guerrillas near Henderson Field. Only a week earlier, I’d walked into among the bunkers left out after WW2, like a tourist. Searching lower in the airfield because the Qantas plane required off I felt an enormous feeling of relief. Just 6 hrs earlier, sipping whisky around the deck before dinner using the Mind from the Solomons Public Service and also the upon the market Catholic Bishop from the Solomons, I used to be concerned about the gunfire approximately the ridge.
“Don’t be concerned” I had been told “They will not shoot at us.”
“How can you tell?”
“Because I am a Malaitan and my spouse is really a local lady.” my host assured me.
I didn’t feel reassured, but another sip of duty free scotch helped settle my nerves.
What has all of this drama related to an open Health transformation strategy?
How did I become there to begin with?
I had been working, making time from my talking to practice in Nz, to invest 2 days in Honiara for Massey College, teaching public sector intending to senior public servants. This was a worldwide aid program the Massey team have been supplying in Off-shore Islands during the last three years. It’d taken me to Samoa, Tonga and also the Prepare Islands already. Now I had been teaching within the Government Training Center just over the Parliament House in Honiara. My visit was funded through the Asia Development Bank.
The teaching program needed students to organize and submit a proper plan and implementation intend to resolve a problem of national importance his or her final assignment. Through the years I’ve come across some outstanding work made by Off-shore Island officials, because they attempted to re-think government technique to enhance the welfare of the citizens.
