NEWSPAGE 19 March
2010

(Photo: John Pule)

(Photos: Muay Thai Samoa)

SAMOA: American Samoa to take on Samoa in Muay Thai kick boxing
Source: eventpolynesia.com
 

The inclusion of Muay Thai kick boxing in the upcoming Samoa Pro Am Fights next Tuesday 23 March at Faleata Gym # 1 has now added a whole new dimension to the popularity of the local tournament.

Muay Thai Samoa fighter Jesse Nilon will take on twenty six year old Sancho Niedo III from American Samoa, while local girl Sophia Rogers will square off with Julliam Muasau of American Samoa.

MTS President, Tipaula Laupue said,” This is a first for the sport in Samoa. Especially with our local fighters going up against a team from America Samoa in what promises to be a close encounter.”

“We are grateful as an association in being given an opportunity to show case some of our young local talent to the sporting public of Samoa, and extend a huge fa’amalo to Event Polynesia for bringing the different codes of full contact sports under one roof,” said Laupue.

According to Teleiai Edwin Puni of Event Polynesia, “Our invitation to include Muay Thai kick boxing in the Samoa Pro Am Fights is a better way forward for both boxing and kick boxing in Samoa.”

“Promoting Muay Thai will provide local boxing talent with another opportunity in full contact sports; a similar approach with rugby players also playing rugby league and vice versa.”

According to Teleiai, “There is a huge demand to bring back the fa’afafine bouts and corporate bouts that we had in the beginning. However, at the moment we are focusing on the serious side of boxing with the development of elite fighters through tournaments like the Samoa Pro Am Fights.”

“The records show that Samoa will always do well in international amateur tournaments in boxing, weightlifting and wrestling. Now combine it with Muay Thai kick boxing and Samoa is on track to deliver to the UFC the ultimate fighting mix martial art athlete.”

“I think its time for Event Polynesia to pay Seiuli Paul Wallwork and Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork a visit,” added Teleiai.

Since its first promotion in Apia when it staged the Monty Betham Jr’s debut bout three years ago, Event Polynesia has consistently provided the much needed boxing tournaments in Apia and Auckland, New Zealand for Samoan and Pacific boxers.

TICKET OUTLETS:
JP Fitness (Vaimea), Hennies Sports Bar (Fugalei), Maroon Boy’s Corner (Apia).
Group discounts available by contacting Event Polynesia (+685) 28802
 

Photo Captions:

Photos 1&2 - (L-R) Muay Thai Samoa fighter Jesse Nilon will take on twenty six year old Sancho Niedo III from American Samoa.

Photos 3&4 - (L-R) Muay Thai Samoa fighter Sophia Rogers will square off with Julliam Muasau of American Samoa.
 

AMERICAN SAMOA: ASG receives $2.5 million grant award from USDOT
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega announced recently that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded the American Samoa Government two grants totalling $2.5 million. The two grants are both funded from the Airport Improvement Program administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Airport Improvement Program was established by Congress under the Airport and Airway Improvement of 1982 that has been reauthorized in 2003 as the Vision100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The $2 million discretionary grant will provide funding to continue the installation of the perimeter fencing and the $500,000 entitlement grant will continue to fund improvements to the terminal building at the Pago Pago International Airport.

“This grant funding is critical for our main airport given the high priority of safety and access for visitors and locals travelling to and from American Samoa,” said Faleomavaega. “The perimeter fencing will help enhance safety by restricting access for unauthorized persons within areas designated for airport operations and runways. This is critical today given the events of September 11, 2001.”

“The modernization of the terminal building is welcomed during this time especially with an aging airport. The modernization project includes the upgrade of the passenger departure lobby and will also provide more space in improving the efficiency of processing passengers through the main terminal. This will make travellers more comfortable particularly with the long waiting lines and security checkpoints prior to departure.”

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Matagi McMoore, the Director of the Port Administration, and the Governor for their efforts in improving our entry ports in American Samoa. I, especially, want to thank my good friend and former colleague, Secretary LaHood of the USDOT, and J. Randolph Babbitt, Administrator for FAA, for their continued support of improving American Samoa’s infrastructure,” concluded Faleomavaega.
 

(Photos: New Zealand Defence Force)

FIJI: RNZAF C-130 Hercules continues to assist in Fiji
Source: New Zealand Defence Force Press Release

A C-130 Hercules aircraft from NO 40 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force remains in Fiji to assist with delivering aid to areas affected by Cyclone Tomas. The aircraft will also undertake further reconnaissance missions over some of the islands in the northern part of the Fiji group.

SQN LDR Kavae Tamariki of the RNZAF says,” Local authorities and the Fijian people have been very appreciative of our efforts. We remain in the initial assessment phase so the full extent of the damage is not yet known.

“The Fijian authorities are well organised and proactive in providing support to the outer islands.”
As well as further reconnaissance over affected islands, the C130 will also deliver further aid and humanitarian relief into Labasa today.

“The Air Force crew including ground-based support teams at Nausori Airfield have been working some very long hours to provide support,” says SQN LDR Tamariki.

NZ Defence Force personnel are also working with NZ High Commission staff, local officials and NZAID representatives.
Tom Wilson, First Secretary, NZAID Programme, at the NZ High Commission in Suva says, “We’re working closely with FRANZ partners, France and Australia, and the Fiji authorities, on how best to respond to humanitarian needs following Cyclone Tomas.

“The Mission yesterday allowed us to identify the need for relief supplies on Cikobia and provide valuable information to the authorities in Fiji.”

The RNZAF C-130 will be co-ordinating its reconnaissance flights with an Australian C130 aircraft from the RAAF to ensure as much of the affected areas are covered as quickly as possible.
 

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - Cikobia Island from the air.

Photos 2,3&4 - Royal New Zealand Air Force arrival and unloading at Vanua Levu.
 

NEW CALEDONIA: New Caledonia taps Australia for reef protection
Source: Agence France-Presse via Google News

New Caledonia has enlisted Australia's help to protect its massive coral reef, the world's second biggest after the Great Barrier Reef.

Senior officials said the French Pacific territory hoped to tap Australian research and expertise to maintain the reef, which rings its main island and is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.

"Australia has long-standing experience in the management of the coral reef," High Commissioner (governor) Yves Dassonville told reporters in Canberra during a visit.

"We would like to seize the opportunity of your experience and exchange scientific information on research projects with regard to those two reefs, which are the largest in the world and which are essentially facing each other across the sea."

Dassonville also said New Caledonia hoped to set up joint management of the Australian and French economic zones which extend across the Pacific from the huge reefs on either side.

"It would be useful to establish a joint sustainable and agreed management approach for those two exclusive economic areas beyond the coral reefs," he said.

The initiatives are part of a new push for New Caledonia to integrate more closely with its neighbours, including moves for full membership of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), ahead of an independence referendum.

New Caledonia President Philippe Gomes said Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea all supported the PIF bid by New Caledonia, which is currently an associate member.

The delegation also proposed holding annual meetings with Australia aimed at boosting trade, education and cultural ties, and sharing expertise at fighting bushfires, which plague both sides.

New Caledonia, a former penal colony which was annexed by France in 1853, is increasingly moving towards independence with the referendum on self-rule due between 2014 and 2018.

The islands lie 1,500 kilometres (900 miles) east of Australia and are home to some 227,000 people and about 25 percent of the world's nickel reserves, creating an industry which exports mainly to Japan and South Korea.

The delegation, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, was the biggest ever sent to Australia by New Caledonia and the first received by the country's prime minister.
 

WOLDWIDE: Pacific Chlamydia burden amongst highest in the world
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community Press Release

“This should be a day for celebrating progress made in the Pacific towards gender equality and women’s rights,” said Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) speaking last week on International Women’s Day (8 March).

“Sadly, the reality is that many women in our region still face inequality, cultural taboos and limited access to health care. One result of these attitudes is that the number of women affected by Chlamydia, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) with serious health implications, is extraordinarily high.”

Dr Rodgers, a former medical practitioner, said one in every three or four young people aged 15-24 may be infected with Chlamydia. Recent evaluations of three national testing and treatment programmes show that in some countries, Chlamydia prevalence is as high as 35 per cent among pregnant women.

Chlamydia is often called the ‘silent infection’ as most people infected, men or women, have few or no obvious symptoms. Symptoms may be subtle, such as vaginal discharge or pelvic pain. But if left untreated it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. If a pregnant woman has Chlamydia, her newborn may develop lung and eye infections. Chlamydia is spread when a person has vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected person without using a condom.

In January 2010, the Regional Sexually Transmitted Infections Working Group, made up of representatives of SPC, WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, OSSHM and CDC, met in Fiji to discuss options for strong public health action in response to the Chlamydia epidemic.

“We have gathered enough epidemiological data now to be able to make informed, evidenced-based decisions in terms of a public health strategy,” said Gillian Duffy, HIV & STI Surveillance Officer at SPC. “One of the recommendations put forward to countries to overcome this problem is ‘epidemiological treatment’.”

International research has shown that a possible solution in countries where high rates of Chlamydia are detected among certain groups is to target these groups for treatment. Chlamydia is usually found at higher rates in people under 25 years and with multiple sexual partners, but in the Pacific many women are being infected by their husband or only sexual partner.

“At the moment, nearly half of the people who test positive for Chlamydia in some Pacific countries do not come back for treatment,” said Ms Duffy. “With epidemiological treatment, we can ensure that everyone is treated and bypass recall system issues.”

In addition, epidemiological treatment of some groups alleviates pressure on laboratories, freeing up capacity to offer testing to the wider community. And if detected early, Chlamydia is easy to treat with a single dose of antibiotics. Partners of patients also need to be treated to prevent re-infection.

However, Ms Duffy stressed “Popping a pill is not enough to solve the problem. Epidemiological treatment will only be effective in the long term if it is accompanied by behaviour change. People need to use condoms, particularly with new or casual partners, and ask for a test if they think they may have put themselves at risk.”

“Remember, a person can look healthy and still have a sexually transmitted infection. Most people with Chlamydia have no symptoms and do not know they are infected, but the long-term consequences can be serious, including infertility.”

For Dr Rodgers, behaviour change extends to include gender relations. “Chlamydia is an STI which, like HIV, increases its spread thanks to gender inequality and gender-based violence. Having only one partner or being married does not protect women from Chlamydia, and women should not be made to feel scared about insisting on using a condom.”