Solomon Islands' health system is on the verge of collapse as the country struggles to deal with a devastating outbreak of Covid-19.
There are no beds for Covid patients at the National Referral Hospital in the capital of Honiara, which leads to people dying on the floor of the wards, as well as a lack of beds.
The hospital is overcrowded and people are dying on the floor. It is a sad experience. I have never seen this before.
Solomon Islands, a country of about 700,000 people in the South Pacific, had remained Covid-free throughout the Pandemic. The country has recorded over 6,000 cases and around 70 deaths since Covid arrived.
The doctor said the true number of deaths was likely to be much higher.
There are deaths at home that are not brought to the hospital because of the fear that the relatives will not be allowed to take the body out.
The Central field hospital is fully occupied and healthcare facilities are struggling to cope. He said that the tents for the treatment of Covid-19 patients had no toilets, shower rooms or air-conditioning, which he said showed the government's lack of preparation.
The government has failed this nation.
Critically ill patients needing oxygen are being treated on the Covid ward. He and a nurse in the hospital confirmed that there were Covid patients on other wards.
The doctor said that the staff was overwhelmed by the number of cases.
We don't have enough nurses to look after the Covid-19 patients, meaning there will be no proper observations and monitoring.
Covid-positive nurses were being called in to work because the staff was so overstretched, according to a registered nurse who wished to remain anonymous.
In the past weeks, we have had no choice but to recall those who tested positive yet were not sick, as we can't handle the increasing Covid-19 cases daily.
Junior nurses are looking after critically ill patients on their own, according to a newly-graduated nurse.
We need supervision at all times. We have to handle the cases ourselves, because this is a risky undertaking, when manpower is over stretched.
The doctor warned that patients with other illnesses and conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and those requiring surgery, were not getting treatment, monitoring or medication, potentially leading to more deaths.
The doctor said that many people with illnesses don't follow up because of their fear of Covid-19.
The government issued a statement last week saying the rapid spread of Covid was beyond the testing capability of health authorities, which contributed to under-reporting of actual case numbers.
The health minister warned last week that the health system could not cater for everyone who tested positive for Covid.
He said that those with mild symptoms should only be brought to health facilities for clinical management.
The Solomon Islands had a low vaccination rate at the end of the year.
The health minister said there had been allegations of medical practitioners selling vaccines to people, and that since the outbreak, vaccination sites that remained empty all of last year are now experiencing massive turnout from the public.
The ministry of health didn't respond to questions.
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