A SCHOOL of Medicine students' accommodation block in Honiara, Solomon Islands has opened in July as part of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences commitment to providing excellence in training and education of health professionals.
According to a statement, the accommodation, FNU's first campus outside Fiji, was a project in partnership with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services and funded with help from the Australian government.
Australia provides about $A20million ($F37.5million) every year towards the improvement of health services in Solomon Islands and the new building is part of the assistance to make sure sufficient qualified healthcare workers are available, Australian High Commissioner in the Solomon Islands Matt Anderson said at the opening ceremony.
The accommodation will house final year medical students during their trainee internship with the National Referral Hospital, Solomon Islands and the Honiara City Council.
"It is optimum for final year medical students to undertake trainee internships in the country to which they will return.
"However, with no accommodation in the Solomon Islands this was previously not possible," said Dr Elizabeth Rodgers, head of the Department of Medical Sciences.
The accommodation houses seven MBBS-6 trainee interns who are expected to graduate in December.