Kilu ‘ufi Hospital, Malaita

  +677 40 272

GEOGRAPHY
Kilu’ ufi hospital, Malaita province is the third largest hospital in Solomon Islands and located 4km North from Auki, the capital of Malaita Province. The island of Malaita is home to one-third of the Solomon Island’s population (about 170, 000 people).

HISTORY
A proper government hospital first opened in Kilu ‘ufi in 1915 with two doctors, one of whom worked on circuit throughout the islands. The first nurse at Kilu ‘ufi hospital was  Edith E. Elliot, and Dr Nathaniel Crichlow (q.v.), was the first Government Medical Officer, arrived in Tulagi in 1914.
ATTRACTIONS
The man-made islands are not far from Auki and are a popular tourist attraction. From there you can also take a one hour motorised canoe ride which will take you back in time to see and experience century-old cultures of the people of the Langalanga Lagoon.  Malaita is also the home of the traditional shell money – which is still in circulation there. Malaita is also famous for the haunting sound of its unique panpipe bands – especially those on are on the Langalanga Lagoon.

 

GETTING THERE
Auki is a pain to reach from Australia if you are making a specific visit because none of the domestic flights line up with the international, and so there’s a forced overnight in Honiara both on arrival and departure. However, from Honiara its only 30 minutes flying time with Flysolomons having daily flights Monday to Saturday from Honiara. The boat trip from Honiara to Auki takes 3 hours, and is how most patients are transferred across to National Referral Hospital in Honiara. Auki airport is in Gwaunaruu which is 10km from Auki, and 5km from Kilu ‘ufi hospital (see map above).

FACILITIES

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation in Auki is comfortable but not really “tourist class” and unfortunately not great value at around SBD 600/night. They are all air-conditioned.  The main hotels are all at Auki, and include Auki Hotel, Auki Lodge & Rarasu Motel. Of these, Rarusa hotel is the nicest and is very neat and new, and costs SBD $700 a night. It has an outside kitchen and dinning area for self preparation of food, which is great for large groups.  Auki lodge is also nice with airconditioned rooms for SBD $700 a night, and has the benefit of being the only hotel in Auki with a restaurant. Bookings can be made by email to aukilodge12@gmail.com, or by phone: 677 40131.

HOSPITAL FACILITIES
The number of beds in 2005 was 150, with a large psychiatric inpatient and outpatient service. Although it is the second largest hospital in Solomon Islands, only basic medications are available. There are five wards: male, female, children’s ward, the isolation ward for TB patients and the antenatal/postnatal/labour ward. Kilu’ufi is home to the National Psychiatric Unit, which is a relatively small unit comprised of seperate male and female beds (14 male, 10 female), and which also offers psychiatric outpatient facilities. It is mainly run by psychiatric nurses.
Currently, the construction of a new Kilu’ufi hospital on the site of the existing hospital is in progress.  The hospital has a number of Landcruiser troopcarriers, which are used for transporting patients and staff.

OT FACILITIES

The OT has a fully functional anaesthetic machine used daily. There is a single operating room, and a second minor procedures room where case can be done under spinal or local anaesthetic.  Intravenous diazepam and morphine are available.  Supplies of midazolam, fentanyl and propoful are available but quickly run out.  Halothan, oxygen and nitrous oxide are available, but there is no carbon dioxide.

 

STAFF AND CONTACTS
Kilu ‘ufi hosptial is a well run unit, and volunteers are very much welcome, and can be easily organised by contacting Dr. Henry Kako (Director of Medical Services – Kilu ‘ufi Hospital), or Dr Micky Olangi (General Surgeon).  The Hospital Staff at Kilu ‘ufi hospital are also very helpful.  The hospital has a full time surgeon (Dr Micky Olangi) and a full time anaesthetist (Dr David Danidofea).

Kilu ‘ufi hospital also has a large psychiatry unit with chief psychiatrist Dr Paul Orotaloa, and second in charge Dr Rex Maukera.