IN the lead-up to this weekend’s Miss Solomon Islands Pageant 2024 competition, one of the six contestants for the crown, Miss Lauru Elsie Polosovai is set to raise advocacy and drive support initiatives towards women’s health initiatives. Ms Polosovai, 23, who hails from Dara and Vuruleke in the Choiseul Province and Bina in West Kwaio in Malaita Province said, she’s proud to represent the interests and promote the health and welfare of local women in the country, especially in Lauru (Choiseul Province). “First of all, thank you so much to the Lauru People’s Association for having the confidence in me to represent my beautiful homeland, Choiseul Province,” she said.
“Through my platform, I aim to raise awareness and drive initiatives that advocate for women’s health to contribute to a healthier and more empowered generation of women by working closely with relevant key stakeholders and partners in the country. “I would like to advocate for better access to and coverage of women’s health services, increased funding for women’s health research and the inclusion of women in clinical trials,” Ms Polosovai said. “Access to comprehensive health care, which includes reproductive health care including contraception that can be used to treat several endocrine diseases and ensuring access to this care.
“I aim to achieve this by working closely with the government, policy makers, leaders, funders and our local communities, and by challenging social norms and attitudes that reinforce women’s poor health outcomes,” she added. Ms Polosovai, who is doing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Otago in New Zealand, concentrating on Human Nutrition, works as a Medical Lab Technician at Awanui Lab at the Dunedin Hospital. She stated that she has been actively involved in the creative arts scene in New Zealand for a long time, with a particular emphasis on advocating for the voices of the Melanesians in the Pacific region.
“I also hold a number of leadership positions in my community, to name a few, being the former Cultural Representative (2022) and Vice President (2023) for the Otago Melanesian Islands Student Association (OMISA). “I would like to thank all my sponsors, chaperons and my families for understanding and supporting me in all the process leading to this this year’s Miss SI Pageant 2024,” she added. Ms Polosovai is also the National Melanesian Youth Coordinator for Aotearoa and the Secretary for the University of Otago Pacific Islands Students Association (UOPISA).
She hopes to see her sponsors, supporters and followers at the crowning night at the Pacific Crown Hotel this Saturday. The Miss Solomon Islands Pageant Float Parade will occur this Friday before the crowning night on Saturday. A study on ‘Addressing Preventable Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: The Determinants and Consequences of unsafe Abortion in the Solomon Islands’ conducted by the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA), the leading Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights service provider in the country, highlights serious public health issues amongst women, including practices and consequences of unsafe abortion.
The collective evidence generated from the existing reports means efforts must be made by the Solomon Islands government and civil society organizations to ensure girls’ and women’s reproductive health rights at all levels. By RAYMOND HIULANGA Solomon Star, Honiara.
