SATUPAITEA DISTRICT HOSPITAL: A MIRACLE TO WITNESS
By: Joshua Lafoa’i
The Satupaitea District Hospital has outperformed Government’s expectations and duly deserves the upgrade funded under the $2.2 million tala Stimulus Package approved by Parliament to improve health facilities and services around the country.
Under the Cabinet Development Committee’s microscope during the Committees on site visits to development on the western end of Savai’i, the newly build hospital dedicated last year is providing crucial daily health care for residents.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri says the District Hospital has become popular very quickly amongst the district because of its location and easy access.
The capacity estimated by the MOH for the District hospital averages close to 30 people per day, however, the Medical Chief says the number of daily patients has more than triple to 100 a day.
Says Satupaitea’s MP and Minister of Public Enterprise, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell;
“The numbers of 100 patients seeking medical attention is a testament that Government made the right decision in rebuilding and relocating the District Hospital to its current new home.
And Acting Prime Minister Tuitala Leao Dr. Talalelei Tuitama called the hospital a miracle to see in reality.
“When the original plans were presented by Lautafi (Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell) to Cabinet we thought, there is no way this would ever be done,” said Tuitama.
“The entire area in which the hospital is on, is a ravine and it was impossible to see anyone being able to fill the gap that they intended to put the hospital on,” he added.
The Minister of Women, Community and Social Development said nonetheless they embraced the push by Lautafi who is also the Member of Parliament for the District, to go ahead with the project.
“I applaud the work done and I marvel at how far this has actually come. And now we understand that more is yet to be done to improve the services here and the Government would gladly support the initiative,” Tuitama added.
Recognizing the genuine need, the District Hospital can expect new attention.
A doctor’s residence is now in the designing stages including plans for a backup generator.
The Satupaitea Hospital was funded by the Government of Japan with a grant worth close to $300,000 and Government contributed over $120,000 funding for staff to work at the medical center and human resources.
