The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Mrs. Pauline McNeil, accompanied by some of the Ministry’s Senior Executive Management team, visited Sasamunga Hospital and the Choiseul Bay Township relocation site in Choiseul Province on 27 February 2026.
Mrs. McNeil and the MHMS Executive team were welcomed at Sasamunga Hospital by the Hospital Secretary (Supervising) and staff. During the visit, the team toured the hospital facilities, observed the services being delivered, and discussed the current needs and operational challenges faced by the hospital.
Mrs. McNeil acknowledged and thanked the hospital leadership and staff for their unwavering dedication and commitment to delivering essential medical services despite the many limited resources including finances, HR capacity and logistics.
“Thank you for the services you continue to provide to our communities here in Choiseul,” Mrs. McNeil said. “We understand that delivering health services in remote and hard to reach locations is not easy. Many families must travel by boat and incur significant costs to access healthcare at Taro, Gizo or Honiara. Therefore, one of the Ministry’s key goals is to bring quality health services closer to our rural communities to at least minimise these challenges but to minimise the burden at the other receiving health facilities whether in Taro, Gizo or Honiara.”
She noted that while it remains challenging to provide services across the country with limited and stretched resources, expanding access to essential quality healthcare remains a top priority for MHMS. Mrs. McNeil also expressed appreciation to the United Church for its continued support to the hospital and the Ministry.
The Sasamunga Hospital Secretary (Supervising) Mr Andrew Telokana thanked the Permanent Secretary and her Executive team for the visit, describing it as a significant milestone for the hospital.
“This is the first time ever we have received a visit from a Permanent Secretary and members of the Executive Management team. For over 30 or 40 years, we have never had a visitation from our mother Ministry and therefore thank and appreciate that you took the time to make the effort to visit us,” he said.
He further reiterated the importance of addressing key issues raised during the site visit to strengthen service delivery at the hospital.
Later in the day, the MHMS team visited the Choiseul Bay Township relocation site for the proposed new hospital. Choiseul Bay Township Project Manager, Mr. Isacc Lekelalu, briefed the delegation on the development plans.
Mr. Lekelalu confirmed that approximately six hectares of land have been allocated at Terekukure for the MHMS for the development of a new hospital site. The area will accommodate both medical facilities and staff housing. He explained that the land falls under Provincial Estate (PE), with the Premier as landlord, and that MHMS will be granted a Fixed Term Estate (FTE) lease in accordance with standard land agreements.
He further reported that feeder roads are currently under construction to provide access to five designated lots for the hospital development. Central Islands Civil Construction Ltd has been contracted for seven months to complete the 2.4-kilometre unsealed road project at a cost of $3.8 million.
“Landscaping of these lots will be done once roads are completed. Central Islands Civil Construction Ltd is contracted for 7 months to construct the roads. The unsealed roads of 2.4km costs $3.8m and progress so far includes vegetation clearances along the road corridor, top soil removal and survey to confirm levels for gravel compaction to secure road basement when complete”, said Mr. Lekelalu.
Progress to date includes vegetation clearance along the road corridor, topsoil removal, and land surveys to confirm levels for gravel compaction to secure a stable road base upon completion.
Mrs. McNeil thanked Mr. Lekelalu for leading the team to the relocation site and acknowledged the Choiseul Provincial Government for allocating land for the healthcare services to include the new hospital.
She noted that the provision of land demonstrates the Provincial Government’s commitment to improving health services and ensuring better access to care for the people of Choiseul.
Sasamunga Area Health Clinic is situated by the coastline of Sasamunga, in South Choiseul. The clinic was established by the Methodist Church in year 1905 by the Methodist Church of Australia and New Zealand. The clinic currently has 21 staff and has a catchment coverage of almost 10,000 people in South Choiseul.
