Gizo Hospital - Update
16.04.2017
Due to the fact that all reserve material to the TWM1 was burned in the fire, the Swiss Trunz technician installing the equipment at Kilu'ufi Hospital takes all material from Switzerland. he will work with a technician from Auki (Malaita) to re-commission the plant, train the staff and introduce the local technician as the local contact. This will ensure local support.
04.10.2016
Today I received a very encouraging email from Chris Leve, the Head Infection Control at Gizo Hospital.
Chris writes that the drinking water facility is fully utilized by patients and staff. Diarrheal diseases have decreased, which is certainly related to the clean drinking water.
Less pleasant is that the fire of the old hospital destroyed everything - the old buildings, in which were the administration, Chris office, and the hospital pharmacy - all burned down completely. there is nothing left except a few pieces of sheet metal - that is bitter!
All documents relating to Infection Control, whether electronic or paper, have been destroyed. Chris has started to recreate everything - a huge mosaic needs to be put back together.
IT'S DONE!
Since Saturday, 09 July 2016, Gizo Hospital has a functioning Trunz drinking water system. The joy about this is immeasurable in the hospital and on Gizo.
Here are a few impressions of the plant:
Details on how the system works can be found here: TWM_001 and here: E_Facts TWM 001 Whereby it must be noted that the system initially works WITHOUT solar panel. That would have exceeded the donation's budget.
I thank everyone who believed in me and the project. I would like to thank the patrons, without whose donations the project could not have been realized.
AND - I thank John Nell, Andrea Trunz and the staff at Gizo Hospital for their tireless efforts and support to make this project a reality.
We are now able to continue with the project on the Solomon Islands and, thanks to further donations, install drinking water systems in hospitals.
If you would like to know more about the other planned drinking water projects in the Solomon Islands and about possible donations, please contact Petra Breiting - the author of this blog - by mail: pbreiting@gmx.net.
Soraya Pina Hospital Secretary Gizo Hospital has written that they are very proud to be the only hospital in the Solomon Islands with the Trunz facility.
Original text:"It makes us proud because we the only hospital in the country that has it, See attached photo of the taps".
23.08.2016
The St. Galler Tagblatt has published an article about the drinking water project read more here in the St. Galler Tagblatt
Information about Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands, or Solomon Islands, is one of the larger island nations in the South Pacific and is a parliamentary monarchy. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented in the Solomon Islands by a governor general.
More information at Wikipedia.
Trunz Water Systems AG Switzerland
The company Trunz Water Systems AG from Steinach /SG has developed a technology that makes it possible to filter clean drinking water from salt water, brackish water or even well water. Trunz Water Systems AG has developed the appropriate solar technology to be able to use this system worldwide, i.e. in areas affected by natural disasters, in areas where UN troops are deployed, or in areas with water shortage. The devices are mostly independent of electricity or diesel generators
Information about Trunz Water Systems AG
In these photos (by John Nell, Trunz Sustainable Water Systems Australia) from Fiji, a "survival kit" can be seen. This device, no bigger than a suitcase and equipped with a solar panel, filters salt water into drinking water. Various civil defense and relief organizations have this device in use.
Information about the Brackish Water System of Trunz Water Systems AG
Information on the Solomon Islands earthquake
Many have heard/read in the media about the earthquake on 8/12/9/2016 that affected the Solomon Islands. a tsunami warning was declared and later withdrawn.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale. Already on Dec. 9, 2016, the Solomon Islands Red Cross ensured that relief supplies were delivered to the affected regions. Despite all this, many buildings were partially or completely destroyed. a child was killed.
The hardest hit island is Kirakira, read the report in the Solomon Star:Solomon Star Kirakira
Read more about the earthquake here:Report Solomon Star
The epicenter is shown on the map
Drinking water shortage in the north of the Solomon Islands
In the north of the Solomon Islands there is a terrible drought due to El Niño. The Western Provinces are particularly affected, namely Gizo Island with the second largest hospital (150 beds) in the Solomon Islands.
Read ABC Australia 's article on this, as well as all the updated articles on the individual hospitals.
News about the drinking water project
Not even 2 weeks have passed and already there is more news to report.
Die Non Profit Organisation DAISI® = Doctors Assisting In Solomon Islands ist dermassen von dem Trinkwasserprojekt überzeugt, dass sie auf ihrer Webseite über das Trinkwasserprojekt berichten. In addition, they really wanted me to be a member of the organization - I was very happy to agree.
On 05.04.2016, Dr. Des Soares told me on the phone that he is now a member of DAISI®. He was approached and was very happy to agree. With Des Soares, DAISI® gains a highly qualified orthopedic specialist who trains doctors in collaboration with Dr. Hermann Obleri in Honiara.
Drinking water project
The implementation of the project continues to make huge progress. John Nell from Trunz Sustainable Water Systems Australia was in the Solomon Islands for 10 days in March and of course also in Gizo. Thanks to the fact that Des Soares was in Honiara at the same time, he was able to set up everything essential with John. I'm too far away for that.
The system TWM1 will be installed in the new hospital - details about the system you can read here TWM1
In order for the system to be used reasonably, 4-5 water pipes with the corresponding taps are connected to the system. This way, hospital staff, patients, relatives and also the residents of Gizo can get pure, clean drinking water.
In the basement of the hospital is a very large room where several, so-called water bubbles with a total capacity of 1 million liters of water will be installed. These "bubbles" can supply the hospital with fresh water - via the TWM1 device - for 10 days in an emergency situation.
Another step is that around the hospital water tanks with a capacity of 20,000 L are filled with water from the hospital kitchen, and then also get pure drinking water through the device.
There is also 1 fresh water source with a water pipe but no tap at the prison, which is right next to the old hospital. Without a tap, the spring water now just flows into the sea. With a tank that collects the water, even the village can be supplied with fresh water.
An example of how it was solved in another place. To the left of the orange water tank is the TWM1 unit. A water tank at the right edge of the picture.
On March 11, 2016, John Nell wrote in an email that the TWM1 plant can be commissioned in mid to late April 2016 at the latest.
1. a suitable place for the TWM1 system could be found on the first floor of the hospital
2. stainless steel faucets and pipes are currently being manufactured at a local company. John Nell will take these to Gizo in April.
3. the TWM1 plant will be sent by air to Honiara in April and then by ship to Gizo.
4. the TWM1 system will be installed and commissioned in mid - to late April.
On 04.04.2016 Mrs. Andrea Trunz wrote in a mail that the schedule can be kept for the most part.
(...)John informed me that he will get the info / order out to us early next week. My colleague in the office will then follow up on the settlement and keep me informed.
On the same day(night of 4/5/2016 ) I received an email from John Nell defining the next goals so I can adjust the schedule:
1. stainless water basins and faucets for the plant are completed.
2. the Trunz plant incl. the necessary accessories will be sent to Honiara by air freight in the coming weeks
3. the goal is to have the plant in operation at the beginning of May
Status drinking water project
My expectations for the implementation of the drinking water project were totally exceeded.
On behalf of the people of the Solomon Islands, a big thank you goes to the patrons of the drinking water project.
While I was still in the Solomon Islands, initiatives were taken by my interlocutors there, new ideas were developed and offers were made from the official side for the affected hospitals and people.
All details can be read in the individual articles.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of the Solomon Islands, whose unshakeable trust in me gives me the motivation to continue every day.
I am happy about the e-mails reporting how grateful everyone is that not just one stone, but many stones have been set rolling.
Of course, there are also beautiful moments that I have captured on photos.
Dive with me into the island world of the South Seas.
Official meeting WHO Honiara
My meeting with Audrey Aumura exceeded all my modest expectations.
Audrey is downright overwhelmed with what has gotten rolling with the drinking water project.
With the documents on the technical details, I was able to explain to her in my own words how the system works for Gizo Hospital. She asked me if I had already submitted it to the Ministry - no, I don't know who.
Then, using the photos of Fiji, I explained to her how the Emergency Kit from Trunz works.
All of a sudden she was very excited and shouted: "That's it, that's what we need from the WHO for all the islands to alleviate the greatest drinking water emergency". I was then speechless. With the available fund, tens of such devices can be purchased.
But that's not all. I had taken a copy of my fictitious business case for malaria control, which I had created during my studies, to the meeting. Audrey was completely blown away. That would be the hammer and must be passed on immediately to the WHO and the Ministry. Again, she sees a solution for malaria control in the Solomon Islands.
I did not expect such a successful meeting.
I look forward to seeing more of "my" drinking water project and fictional business case soon.
Official Meeting Japanese Embassy Honiara
The conversation at the Japanese Embassy with Koji Yamaguchi and Keiko Nakamura was very satisfactory.
After all the pleasantries were exchanged, I explained the rationale behind the Gizo Hospital drinking water project. This was duly appreciated positively.
Unfortunately, no further funds can be released from the Grass-Root Project. Sanitation and clean drinking water must be organized throughout the Solomon Islands.
I described the situation with the missing toilets in an emergency and lo and behold - solution in sight. Bureaucracy must be maintained, so a brief project plan should be prepared and sent to Yamaguchi-san. In addition, he wants Chris Leve Head Infection Control at Gizo Hospital in the Grass-Root project.
Who would have thought that?
When the drinking water system is installed at Gizo Hospital, they both want to fly there and see everything on site.