Bougainville’s health system set for transformation with launch of Arawa Level 7 Hospital
The Autonomous Bougainville Government, in partnership with Lloyds Metal and Energy Limited (LMEL), an Indian industrial and mining company and investment partner to Bougainville, yesterday officiated the groundbreaking and foundation stone-laying ceremony for the Level 7 Hospital in Arawa Town.
The Level 7 Hospital will be called the ‘Lloyds Kali Ammal Arawa Hospital’ and will be a state-of-the-art specialized hospital, providing free specialised healthcare to the people of Bougainville.
This project is the first following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the ABG and Lloyds Metal in November last year and represents a strategic partnership that aligns with Bougainville’s independence roadmap.
President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville His Excellency Ishmael Toroama, described the occasion as a significant achievement in setting the first foundational pillar for development in Bougainville, acknowledging Bougainville’s forefather’s dreams for independence as a stepping stone.
“The dreams and the stepping stones of our forefathers brings us to this momentous occasion of laying our first foundational pillar in development for Bougainville,” he said.
President Toroama thanked LMEL for supporting Bougainville’s journey, especially in improving healthcare in the region, noting that the people of Bougainville have long been marginalized in access to essential medical care.
“Since the good days of BCL, people of Bougainville have been marginalized, no health services were provided during the crisis and to this day, many lives have been lost. Businessmen and women have had to travel to PNG and abroad for treatment while the rest continued to suffer and this health facility will address this,” he said.
ABG Minister for Health Hon. Delourdes Semoso shared similar sentiments, acknowledging the occasion as a transformational moment for the health care system in Bougainville.
“Today marks a historic and transformational moment for our health care system in Bougainville, we are here to participate in the launching of this long anticipated Arawa specialist referral hospital in Central Bougainville,” she said.
She reiterated that the initiative demonstrated the President’s clear commitment to prioritizing the health and wellbeing of the people of Bougainville, adding that, as the Minister responsible for health, she would work closely with the President to localize specialist services and improve access to quality healthcare for rural communities.
To complement the President’s commitment, Minister Semoso said her ministry worked closely with the Building Board to facilitate the timely review of the hospital’s layout and design ahead of the formal launch. She explained that the board was convened in accordance with established regulatory processes to assess the proposal.
She added that the Building Board is now finalizing conditional approval for the hospital, describing it as a major infrastructure development for Bougainville, and said the outcome reflects effective coordination between the Office of the President and the Ministry of Health.
“After today’s launching, the building materials will be immediately shipped for construction work to begin without delay,” she said.
Managing Director for the Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd Prabhakaran Balasubramanium thanked the President and his cabinet, the government, administration and people of Bougainville for giving them the opportunity to invest in Bougainville.
Noting that health care services was a basic need for Bougainville, LMEL saw this as a priority service to support the ABG to establish through the construction of the specialist hospital with specialized equipment, surgery section and medicine which will be provided free of charge.
The hospital is named after the grandmother of the Managing Director for Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd, who helped to start up this company financially.
“Here I stand today to understand the basic need is the health system - today this Hospital Lloyds Kali Ammal Arawa Hospital, named after my grandmother who I started this company with and I stand committed to see that this health care facility building is constructed within a number of days and not number of months.”
LMEL will also provide specialist doctors and nurses from India to live and work in Bougainville, and they would also provide support to the Bougainville Health service in terms of capacity building and training to ensure local capacity is enhanced and sustained in the long term for Bougainville.
Mr Prabhakaran also revealed that the company has set a target to commence work after the launching and aims to complete the building in less than eight months. He anticipates to opened by the new facility by the end of 2026.
Apart from building the state-of-the-art hospital, discussions have been made with the ABG Minister for Lands and Member for North Nasioi Hon Henry John Potabu to secure land for building staff housing and accommodation.
The launching was witnessed by the ABG Cabinet, ABG Members of Parliament, ABG Administration, National Member for North Bougainville Hon Francesca Semoso, National Member for Central Bougainville Hon Jimmy Miringtoro, Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd staff, people of Bougainville.
A plaque marking the occasion was unveiled by the President Toroama and Hon Francesca Semoso, witnessed by LMEL Managing Director Mr Prabhakaran, ABG Minister for Health Hon Delourdes Semoso and ABG Minister for Infrastructure and Utilities Hon Patrick Nisira.
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