BY CHRIS ALEX
‘Rise despite adversities and challenges’ would best describe 37-year-old Stella Munamua who made her way to becoming the manageress of the ABM Medico Logistics private lab, despite years of being a housewife taking care of her children.
When her husband, Dr. Alex Munamua partnered with a Fijian who owned the clinical laboratory ‘ABM Medico Logistics Private Lab’ to provide medical expert services to patients visiting the lab, the mother of five was offered the managerial role of administering the business of the laboratory, however, she declined the offer due to her commitment of raising her children.
“I resist the offer in the first place, knowing in my mind that am not capable of doing it since I am a housewife,” Stella Munamua said.
Stella admitted that being a housewife for 12 years has been a fulfilling experience having the responsibility to manage her family and household chores.
However, in 2020, she made up her mind to help her husband’s business aspiration after the Fijian decided to hand over the ownership of the ‘ABM Medico Logistics private lab’ to her husband.
“I finally accepted the role as the manageress of the clinical laboratory since I don’t have the answer to say no but to believe in myself that anyone can do anything impossible.
“At the back of my mind, I wanted to support my husband to fulfil his business ambitions and also to assist him in managing and providing the essential laboratory testing and health care services to the public,” she said.
Stella’s journey in managing the business has not been without its challenges – the COVID-19 pandemic hit them hard.
“Despite faced with challenges related to COVID-19, we closed its services to the public, and however, we reopened the business earlier this year (2022).
“The clinical laboratory service room building opens from Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm and it’s situated at the Supreme Casino, Kukum area, East of Honiara,” Stella from the province of Isabel and Makira/Ulawa province said.
She said that the clinic has offered local patients to access essential laboratory testing and healthcare services to improve the delivery of health care in the community by assisting doctors in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of disease.
“Our menu of test areas includes, Kidney test, Liver test, Cholesterol levels, Sugar levels, STI (Sexual Transmitted Infections), Dengue, Malaria and Zika, Hormones, and many more,” she said.
Armed with the necessary skills and knowledge, the manageress, Stella now sought to work hard in managing the laboratory clinic.
She has previously graduated with a diploma in administration and management from the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) and also received several online training courses which are critical aspects of administration and business management such as entrepreneurship skills, financial, database management selling, product knowledge, and customer care skills.
