The children learnt about the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and created beautiful pieces of artwork from plastic waste collected from the beach.

The workshop aimed to use art to connect with young people and raise awareness of the issue, changing behaviours towards plastic pollution, and protecting the marine biodiversity in Solomon Islands.

Supported by the British High Commission together with the British Council New Zealand and Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, students aged between 9 to 11 years, worked remotely with renowned UK artist Mandy Barker to create pieces of artwork made from everyday plastics.

Mandy who helped guide the children through the creative art workshop said:

I’m humbled to think I might have made a difference on the other side of the world. Never in my wildest dreams. It makes what I do worthwhile when you can see the results. Thank you for letting me facilitate the workshop to inform them of the issue. It only takes one child to be inspired to become an ambassador for the environment and try to make changes.

The children’s artwork was on display at the Dreamcast Theatre Art Hub in Honiara for public viewing until Friday 21 October 2022.

Acting British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Nicola Noble described the event as a real success. She said:

It’s wonderful to see the positive impact this unique workshop has had on the children who participated. The Oceans and Plastics workshop is a result of a successful collaboration between the British High Commission in Honiara together with the British Council in New Zealand and Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands. I would like to acknowledge the children from Perch, Koloale, Tuvarufu, Coronation and the Honiara Integrated Community School for their participation as well as their parents and teachers for permitting them to attend and learn about this important issue.

Speaking at the art exhibition event on Tuesday, 18 October in the afternoon, Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, Hon. Lanelle Olandrea Tanangada said:

This exhibition is lifelong learning for our young children, who have demonstrated their creativity, teamwork, ownership of their environment and most importantly to become responsible and environmental friendly citizens. Our life on the islands depends on the ocean, we are the ocean and we must at all costs influence others to keep our environment plastic free.

On behalf of the Government and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, I sincerely thank the British High Commission, British Council New Zealand and the Pacific and Dreamcast theatre for taking this initiative to work with our selected schools and their students and teachers. Parents should be proud of their children, as these wonderful children have demonstrated outstanding artwork, in the hope to promote our ocean and plastics and the impacts and consequences of plastic waste.

Director of British Council New Zealand and the Pacific Natasha Beckman was in Honiara for the two-day workshop and art exhibition and said she was very pleased to have achieved so much in so little time. She said:

It was wonderful to see the creativity of the children and the pride they had in their work when showing it to their teachers and parents. From the two days, I hope the children have been inspired to use art and culture to raise awareness of global problems.

Congratulations to all who attended the UK-Pacific Oceans and Plastics workshop. It was a fantastic two-day event, filled with fun and creativity at the Dreamcast Theatre Art Hub in China Town, Honiara. The students’ artworks were displayed to their parents and teachers as well as the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development and other guests.

Rickson Bau | Press & Public Affairs Officer

British High Commission Honiara, Phone: (+677) 21705 Ext. 2004, Mobile: (+677) 8434221

Email: bhc.honiara@fcdo.gov.uk

Natasha Beckman | Director Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific

British Council New Zealand and Pacific, Mobile: +64 (0) 21 1991044

Email: natasha.beckman@britishcouncil.org

Website: www.britishcouncil.org.nz

Neil Nuia | Creative Director

Dreamcast Theatre Solomon Islands, Mobile: (+677) 7875166,

Website: https://www.dreamcastsolomons.com/

Social media: Facebook

Two batches of Targocid 200mg powder for solution for injection/infusion or oral solution are being recalled by Sanofi UK after they were found to contain high levels of bacterial endotoxins, a toxic compound found in bacterial cell walls that can cause inflammation-related symptoms, high fever and, in very serious cases, septic shock.

The issue was detected when four patients experienced high fevers approximately three hours after being given a dose from one of the affected batches, with the batch numbers 0J25D1 and 0J25D2.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is urging patients who have been prescribed Targocid 200mg powder to use at home (via intravenous injection/infusion or by preparing the solution for oral administration) to check the batch number and expiry date (30/04/2023) on the labels of their medicine to see if their medicine is affected. If so, they should stop using the medicine and seek immediate medical advice from a healthcare professional.

Healthcare professionals have been asked to contact patients who are using this medicine and urgently arrange for a new prescription. Patients using Targocid 200mg who have experienced any of the symptoms listed in recall notification should immediately seek medical assistance

Targocid is an antibiotic used to treat a wide range of infections. It contains a medicine called ‘teicoplanin’ and works by killing the bacteria that cause infections in the body. For most patients this product is administered by healthcare professionals directly in hospitals, but for some patients it is prescribed to use at home. Patients using generic brands of this product and unaffected batches of Targocid do not need to be concerned.

Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said:

Patient safety is always our priority. It is vitally important that you check the labels of your Targocid 200mg powder and if the batch number is 0J25D1 or 0J25D2, you should stop using the medicine and seek immediate medical advice from a healthcare professional. If you are unsure which batch you have been given to use at home, please seek medical advice.

Your healthcare professional will arrange a new prescription for you and answer any questions you may have.

If you are using Targocid 200mg powder and experience any new symptoms, seek medical assistance or visit the nearest accident and emergency centre. Please report any adverse reactions via the Yellow Card scheme website.

We have taken prompt action to ensure affected batches will no longer be given to patients. Other products containing teicoplanin have not been affected by this recall.

General symptoms that patients should be looking for include fever or low body temperature; chills and shivering; cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin; a fast heartbeat; fast breathing; severe breathlessness; severe muscle pain; feeling dizzy or faint; a change in mental state – such as confusion or disorientation; loss of consciousness; slurred speech; nausea and vomiting; diarrhoea and feeling increasingly unwell.

For details on the batch numbers affected, please see the recall notification.

Notes to Editors