The newly refurbished Mataniko Dental Clinic (MDC) will resume dental services on Monday 15th December, 2025. The Health Permanent Secretary, Honiara City Council Health Director and Dental Health Director officially launched the dental clinic yesterday morning and witnessed by dental staffs, after under renovation for a period six months.
In her address at the reopening ceremony, Health Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Pauline McNeil stated, since becoming operational in 2015, the Mataniko Dental Health Clinic has played a central role in delivering essential oral health care. It has served the people of Honiara, communities across Guadalcanal Province, Central Islands Province, and many more from across our nation. The clinic has been a place where pain is relieved, smiles are restored, and families receive vital preventive care and oral health education.
PS McNeil described the major renovation completed represents a strong investment in the health and wellbeing of our people.
She acknowledged the ministry’s infrastructure division for the quality of scoping assessment conducted, and the contractor, Tamasua Enterprise, who executed the renovation on time to enable patients access the dental services. Acknowledgement was also conveyed to the People’s Republic of China who generously donated of four new dental chairs through Honiara City Council. These improvements now allow MDC to operate at quality dental standards with safer, more efficient, and more comfortable services for patient and staff.
“This improved dental clinic aligns closely with our National Health Strategic Plan 2022-2031 and the Role Delineation Policy, which places emphasis on strengthening primary healthcare ensuring that urban health centers and municipal dental units are equipped to deliver and perform quality dental services. delivering equitable access to quality services,
She thanked the Honiara City Council Health Division, particularly the Dental Department, for their commitment to serving our communities.
“I also acknowledge the hard work of our clinical teams whose dedication to ensure that investments like this results in improvement in people’s lives.
“As we look ahead, oral health will continue to be an important focus area within MHMS. Dental Diseases remain among the most common and preventable conditions affecting our people including scaling up of a strong preventive outreach program.
“Today we are not reopening a facility. We are renewing our commitment to stronger, more accessible, and more equitable oral health services for all”, said the Health Secretary.
For the information and as an advisory for the public, the Chief the Mataniko Dental Clinic will be open to patients commencing Monday next week. Dr Francis Fono, who is the Chief Dental Officer of the Mataniko Dental Services advices that the dental services that will be provided at the Mataniko is mainly on tooth extraction services while other specialised dental services will be provided at National Referral Hospital Dental Centre.
“At this stage we will do only tooth extractions for a start while we wait for other materials and handpieces before we can be able to do other services including tooth fillings”, said Dr. Fono.
The Mataniko Dental Clinic opening hours: Mondays to Fridays opens 8am to 12noon and reopen after lunch 1:00pm to 4pm.
Meanwhile, on weekends and Public Holidays, the dental clinic has On-call staff at NRH Dental, on standby for emergency/ pain relief treatment.
