Samoa is represented at the Seventh Asia Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health meeting held in Mongolia.
Maulolo Tavita Amosa and Associate Minister Niuava Eti G. Malolo were among the presenters of the meeting on specific primary health care topics. Niuava at the meeting spoke on the significance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and how it requires vital, people-centered primary health care. It focuses not only on preventing and treating disease and illness, but also on helping to improve the well-being and quality of life.
The Member also shared with the Forum the current status of Samoa’s Primary Heath Care system through the various and continuous operations of the Ministry of Health. The presentation also included the essentiality of the roles of Parliamentarians in shaping the health agenda in Samoa.
This includes the enacting of legislations; approving sufficient budget for the Ministry of Health; mobilizing resources; providing oversight to ensure government accountability and transparency; encouraging multi-sectoral action; ensuring national implementation of global commitments; fostering the participation of constituencies, and engaging in international partnership.
Maulolo had the opportunity to present before the Forum the efforts Samoa took to improve and provide Primary Health Care through the years.
Such as improved prevention, control, and management of communicable and neglect tropical disease; the control and management of non-Communicable diseases as well as improved Sexual and Reproductive Health; Maternal and Child Health. Furthermore improved Healthy Living through Health Promotion and Primordial Prevention and risk management and response to disasters, public health emergencies and climate change.
Participants of the Forum were also informed on other efforts made by Samoa, which includes the revival of Women’s Committees/Groups in the rural areas (Komiti Tumamā), to ensure primary healthcare can be made available and provided to patients as soon as they have been diagnosed appropriately.
