NEWSPAGE 26 March
2010

(Photo: Leilani Kake)

(Photos: Pacific Scoop)

SAMOA: New hospital to lift health standards
Source: Tupuola Terry Tavita via Pacific Scoop

The new state-of-the-art national hospital and administration complex is set to lift Health services in the country to another level.

Upon completion, Health services in the country will be the benchmark for the region.

“The fact that it will be a first class hospital and also a teaching hospital is very important,” said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.

“The vision is, we will no longer have to send med students overseas but they will learn their profession right here.”

The multi-million Health and administrative facilities is being built in collaboration between the governments of Samoa and China. Construction is set to begin next month.

The fledgling Oceania University of Medicine, the Prime Minister said, is integral to the hospital plans.

“The new hospital will also be the campus for OUM. Every recognized medical school needs to be attached to a modern hospital. The new hospital will provide med students the exposure and the hands-on experience necessary for the practical component of their academic degrees.

“At the same time will lift the profile of OUM as an institution of medical excellence, attracting international students and those from around the region to learn their trade here.”

According to Health Minister Gatoloaifa’ana Amataga Alesana Gidlow, many potential doctors fall by the wayside each year because they do not meet “extremely high” qualifications requirements to pursue medicine at universities overseas.

“This is coupled with fast-declining scholarship placement opportunities at these universities….there is now only one scholarship to New Zealand each year and very few to Fiji (Fiji School of Medicine),” she said.

“Health as you all know has been consistently hampered by an acute shortage of doctors at our hospitals.

“OUM and the new training hospital will provide the necessary opportunity for these students to pursue their medical dreams and careers.”

There has also been some concerns in government of the political instability in Fiji, she said.

“In 2000, we had to bring our students home because of the political coup there. Students work was put back two or three years.”

Government for some years now, has had an agreement with New Zealand health authorities, through Papalii Dr CS Benjamin, where New Zealand specialists carry out, mainly surgery, clinics in Samoa.

“OUM students as well as our local doctors can learn off these regular clinics from these specialized physicians.”

Somewhere down the line, Gatoaifaana said, government will look at building a “proper campus for OUM”.

“Especially to cater to the needs of international students. Definitely there will be a need to build a home for the university, complete with halls of residences for staff and students as well as providing a secure environment conducive to the study of medicine.’

The Minister’s vision is shared by OUM Vice Chancellor Professor Surindar Cheema.

“We envision a university that is fully functional providing specialized training across the board.”

Not only medical doctors, he said, but also fields such as dentistry, nursing all disciplines of specialized surgery, radiography and other medical and technical fields.”

OUM

Started in 2002 with an initial intake of 23 international students, OUM now has a total of 110 in its student roll including eight Samoan medical aspirants. The rest are from the U.S and Australia.

“The goal is to develop into a full-fledged medical school.”

OUM currently offers a four-year MBBS/MD degree for graduates and the recently-launched five-year MBBS degree for undergraduates.

“We anticipate an intake of up to 40-50 students each year.”

Tucked away at a corner of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Memorial Hospital Motootua, Professor Cheema believes eventually the OUM will need to have its own university campus.

We’re approaching a point where we’re bursting at the seams so it’s good to have this new teaching hospital to move into.

“Every space in this building we have right now is currently being fully-utilized.”

A fully-functional medical university, he said, has to have at least 200 to 250 students in its roll.

“That’s our aim.”

OUM currently has ‘candidate’ status with the Philippines Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) - which is recognized as an international accrediting body which evaluates institutions in the manner in which US schools are reviewed. When OUM achieves its accreditation by PAASCU, hopeful by October this year Professor Cheema said, the university will be considered comparable to those accredited in the US.

The benefit of being accredited, said OUM Deputy Dean Dr Monalisa Punivalu said, is that international students can then apply for student loans to pursue their degrees at the university.

“International students are a major part of the university.”

And med courses offered at OUM are not necessarily for those with a medical background.

“Anyone with a graduate degree in other fields is more than welcome to have a look at what we have to offer.”

CAMPUS

A campus, complete with accommodation for students and staff, is supported by National Health Services chief executive Dr Stanley Dean.

“Every year, we spend $8 million to send patients overseas,” he said.

“Now we have an opportunity to provide our medical students with the specialized medical training they need. When we do have that expertise as well as the diagnostic facilities required in a modern hospital, the money will stay here to improve health services in the country.”

On NHS relationship with OUM, Dr Dean said;

“The (Tupua Tamasese Memorial Hospital) will be a teaching hospital with OUM intricately woven into its operation.”

Staff of the Hospital, he said, will also be lecturers at the University, and clinical heads as professors.

“TTMH will also cater for extensive student research…and we anticipate the new teaching hospital will provide specialist services to treat 80 percent of our patients in the district hospitals.”

A lot of thought and planning, Dr Dean said, went into the new hospital.

“The initial idea we had for this new hospital is to build it somewhere where up to about 20 acres of land is available. Because we also wanted to incorporate into the plans a campus for OUM.

“We were looking at somewhere up at Vailima next to Medcen (private hospital) as there is plenty of government land up there.”

However, it was decided the location should remain at Motootua.

“And the university campus does not necessarily have to be within the hospital perimeters. The (OUM) campus could be anywhere at Vaitele or Vailima as there is ease of access to Motootua.”

Construction of the Ministry of Health complex is expected to start next month, opposite its current location at Motootua- adjacent to Centipede Alley.

“The ministry will move into its new building when completed and the first phase of the new hospital will begin there.”

Ironically, he said, the current administration building that will be pulled down next month was the first hospital in the country.

“That building - which dates back to the German era - is over a hundred years old and it’s only natural that the hospital returns there.”

The first phase, Dr Dean said, will include an expanded emergency services unit, patient wards and operating theaters, etc. It will have expansive gardens, elevators and ramps, a landmark clock tower and arches reminiscent of the current hospital.

The main structure will be three-storeyed.

“The initials plan was four and was suggested, seven storeys, but we had to factor in earthquakes, evacuation and ease of patients.”

The second phase cover will extend from the current dentistry unit up to the pediatric ward and will house the outpatient, departmental units and training and lecture theatres.”

The current hospital was built by the New Zealand government and opened in 1975.

“Eventually this whole hospital will be demolished and replaced by the new hospital.”

MOH

The new facilities, Ministry of Health chief executive Palantina Tupuimatagi Toelupe said, is in line with government health reforms.

While NHS covers the clinical part of general Health services in the country, the Ministry is the regulatory, monitoring and policy authority.

“The new hospital complex will bring all Health services essentially under one roof.”

Healthy living and prevention from illnesses has become a major component of Health services in the country, said Ms Toelupe,

“This is in terms of community-based public health awareness programmes being carried by the Ministry,” she said.

“We want to keep people healthy and not come to the hospital when they’re at an advanced stage of illness. Avoid complications by maintaining good health that at the end emburdens families in terms of medical bills and ultimately, the state and Health Services.

“The message is always the same, prevention is always better than cure.”

The new hospital and teaching facility will interweave both clinical and illness preventive services.”

The Chinese government has committed an initial $75 million concessionary loan to the project, inked in Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, His Excellency Ma Chongren in early January.

According to Minister Gatoloaifa’ana, Samoa’s submission was ‘quickly’ approved by the Chinese government under its annual assistance to the region programme “not only because it was one of its kind but that health and education is a priority area for Chinese Government overseas aid.”

Photo Captions:

Photo 1 - An artist’s impression of the planned first phase of the new National Hospital at Motootua.

Photo 2 - Planned new Ministry of Health headquarters at Motootua.

NAURU: Cairns Compact Peer Review process will benefit Nauru
Source: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Press Release

The Cairns Compact Peer Review process will benefit Nauru by focusing attention on the country’s planning functions and the associated budget processes.

Nauru’s Secretary of Finance, Tim Drown, who is also responsible for Planning says: “Nauru currently has very positive relations with the donor community and the current Nauru Government has a clear and articulated vision stipulated in the National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS).The benefit to Nauru of this Peer Review process is that it focuses direct attention on the country’s planning framework and associated budget process and this strengthens and reinforces our commitment to improving our planning framework.”

Mr Drown, who has met with the Peer Review Panel which started its work in Nauru on 23rd March said: “There is a lot to be learnt from talking to our peers in the other countries in the region who are members of the Panel. There is a lot to be gained in such gatherings where information is exchanged both formally and informally. We are able to compare among ourselves what we have done, what worked, what didn’t and then move forward with an improved awareness of the issues and options we could consider using in Nauru.”

Mr Drown explained that the current performance reporting requirements to each aid donor are time consuming and require resources that are beyond a country such as Nauru.

“One thing I support is the use by donors of the recipient countrie’s own internal performance monitoring systems and processes. The current system promotes accountability to the donors - it should promote accountability to the Government of the recipient country first and foremost. I think the donor community have to ask themselves whether current systems ultimately foster a greater focus on performance monitoring and management by countries like Nauru or not.”

Mr Drown urges the donor community to embrace the outcomes and recommendations of the Peer Review Process.

“Development assistance is a two way street - and countries like Nauru need the donor community to work collaboratively with each other, as well as with the Pacific Island Countries. I am sure the peer review process will illuminate as many issues for the donors as it will for the recipient countries.”

The Peer Review Panel, which will be in Nauru until Friday, is meeting with representatives of government, development partners, NGOs and the community.

The Panel is made up of representatives from the Cook Islands, Tonga and the UNDP. The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is coordinating the Peer Review.
 

USA: Historic health care reform bill benefits American Samoa
Source: Office of Congressman Faleomavaega Press Release

Congressman Faleomavaega announced recently that by a vote of 220-211 the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010. The bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration.

“If enacted into law, American Samoa will receive $285.5 million in total Medicaid spending for the next 9 years, or an increase of over $180 million,” Faleomavaega said. “This is a momentous accomplishment and a momentous occasion in the history of our great nation.”

“It is momentous in the sense that this long-overdue, comprehensive overhaul of our national Healthcare system is desperately needed to address rising medical costs and to extend coverage to our fellow Americans that are often left to fend for themselves, and I want to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her leadership in bringing this important issue to the Floor for consideration.”

“I also want to express my gratitude to President Obama and the Democratic House and Senate leadership for their willingness to work hand-in-hand with the Congressional Delegates to resolve our concerns and reduce the health disparity facing the Territories.”

“On the House side, I want to particularly thank both Chairman Henry Waxman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and Chairman Charles Rangel of the Committee on Ways and Means for their unwavering support in addressing the concerns put forward by the Congressional Delegates. On the Senate side, I also want to thank Senator Chris Dodd and Senator Charles Schumer for their assistance.”

“Most of all, I wish to recognize my fellow Congressional Delegates, Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands for her work in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Gregorio Sablan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico for their advocacy in the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Madeleine Bordallo of Guam for her leadership as the Chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Healthcare Task Force. Together, we worked relentlessly to bring about change for those we represent.”

“This entire Healthcare overhaul would not have been possible without the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and I want to especially recognize the efforts of Congressman Mike Honda, Chairman of CAPAC.”

“While the bill before us is far from ideal and not the perfect solution to all our health care issues, it is imperative and also the constitutional responsibility of the Members of this Chamber to act in the best interest of those who are suffering, particularly in light of the heart-wrenching stories told of people dying, parents worrying and families living in fear because they have no health insurance.”

“Just last year, it was estimated that 625 Americans lost their health insurance every hour. So even though we may not agree on how to make this right, we can agree that to do nothing is not an acceptable course of action. Our fellow Americans deserve our help.”

“The some 4.4 million Americans living in the Territories also deserve to be recognized and this is why I am pleased that this bill acknowledges that we are part of the American family. Although much remains to be desired, this bill is a step towards bringing the Territories to parity with the States. Under Section 1204, the Territories—Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands—will receive an additional $6.3 billion over a 9 year period in federal funding for Medicaid costs.”

“American Samoa will receive $285.5 million in total Medicaid spending for the next 9 years, or an increase of over $180 million.”

“This legislation also provides $1 billion for the Territories to participate in the Health Insurance Exchange program, the centerpiece of this Healthcare Reform Legislation. Each of the Territories will be afforded the option to participate or transfer their allocation to their Medicaid program. If American Samoa chooses not to participate in the Exchange, the Territory will receive an additional $18.75 million for its Medicaid program.”

The following chart shows what American Samoa will receive on a yearly basis.
 

“With the historic passage of this legislation and the increased federal funding it will provide if enacted into law, I am hopeful that the American Samoa Government and Legislature will do all it can to provide quality and affordable health care for the people of American Samoa.”

“In 2005, the findings of the American Samoa Health Survey estimated that only 25% of the population had insurance and, with the rising cost of health care, it is highly likely that the number of insured in American Samoa has declined drastically since that time.”

“But now, with such a significant increase in federal funding, ASG will once more have the tools it needs to improve healthcare and health coverage for the residents of the Territory and to meet the challenges which have been exacerbated by the Territory’s remote location and the exponential rate of chronic diseases.”

“In light of the current political environment surrounding healthcare reform, President Obama’s own testimony in Ohio last week best summarizes the necessity and the very reason why Congress must pass this legislation today. The President said, “I’m here because of my own mother’s story. She died of cancer, and in the last six months of her life, she was on the phone in her hospital room arguing with insurance companies instead of focusing on getting well and spending time with her family.”

“Millions of Americans share the same story, and this legislation is critical for the welfare of all Americans. This legislation is not only about saving money and reducing the deficit or addressing the billions wasted in Medicare. This legislation is about providing for those who cannot provide for themselves. It is about the fundamental right of healthcare for all.”

“As Martin Luther King once said, ‘Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.’”

“At its best, this bill is a step toward equality and justice for all Americans and, for this reason, I thank my colleagues for supporting this historic legislation and, most especially for working hand-in-hand with the Congressional Delegates’ to make certain that the Territories were included and that our concerns were addressed. As this legislation continues to move forward, I will keep our people updated,” Faleomavaega concluded.
 

(Photo: Vanuatu Daily Post)

VANUATU: Japanese volunteers prepare to go home
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post

No one really knows what it feels like for new arrivals from other countries that leave the comfort of their homes and families behind to come in with a commitment to serve as volunteers for Japan’s JICA, US Peace Corps, Australia’s Youth Ambassadors or Britain’s VSOs.

But for JICA’s Hiroshi Sano, Yasuma Harada, Kumi Shindo and Akira Takeguchi, it is now time to return to Japan after completing their terms in the country as Japanese volunteers.

Sano has been a computer teacher at Malapoa College after working as a computer systems engineer for a large company in Japan until he retired.

A native of a big city in West Hokaido in Japan, he said the population is 230,000. He said what inspired him to become a volunteer in the South Pacific was the book “Treasure Island” which he said, is very popular in Japan.

Sano has benefited in a big way by working as a volunteer in the country. He hopes to set up a private company to help ni Vanuatu to become business men and women.
Harada is employed by the Vanuatu Metrological Service as a computer software and hardware maintenance technician.

He said the Department has fifty workers with 22 of them working in the Head Office at Number 2. There are seven branch offices in the Provinces including one at Saratamata in Ambae, Pekoa in Santo, Lamap in Malekula, White grass in Tanna, and Aneityum.

He said all relevant information is fed into forty computers which are linked to the network to relay the information to Port Vila.

With its hot tropical climate, Harada said Vanuatu is blessed with fruits and vegetable and he loves ripe bananas. He is a native of Fukuoka.

Akira Takeguchi is a Physical Education teacher at Malapoa College. Asked why he chose to become a volunteer in Vanuatu he replied, “I love the South Pacific and love my mountainous home in Japan too but I had never experienced the feeling of living by the sea until I arrived here. I also love tropical fruits”.

Takeguchi said life in Japan is so fast while here in Vanuatu, it is a laid back kind of life stye and people tend to relax and not worry too much about tomorrow. “Here people do not worry too much and there is no stress and this is something which when I return to Japan, I will try to remember so that if I get stressed out then I will remember your relaxed life style here to help me to relax”, he said.

As a native of the snow of Hokaido, Takeguchi has missed the cold and snow for the last two years. Not only that but he also admitted experiencing skin rash which caused him to scratch so it is going to be a great blessing for him to return to the snow.

Kumi Shindo is a music teacher in the Vanuatu Institute of Teacher Education. She also arrived in the country in mid-2008 from Nangano which she refers to as a “middle place”.

Asked how she felt on her arrival here, she said initially she was “afraid of ni Vanuatu people” because she had not seen a Melanesian until she left Japan. “When I first saw the name Vanuatu, I wondered if it was somewhere in Africa because I did not have the slightest clue”, she said.

Not knowing how to speak in Bislama or English did not help Shindo in any way. “But every time the ni Vanuatu kept talking to me. They asked, “Olsem wanem, yu go wea? I gud?’ so quickly I began to feel better and yesterday, I was invited by a ni Vanuatu family for supper. I can tell you that I have not met my family in Japan for one year and nine months so I see my ni Vanuatu family as my family and I love the ni Vanuatu people”, she said between much laughter.

While this group is leaving at the end of this week, the next lot of JICA volunteers are arriving in the country on March.

Photo Caption: Going home from left to right are Hiroshi Sano, Yasuma Harada, Kumi Shindo and Akira Takeguchi.
 

(Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme)

WOLDWIDE: PIMRIS Portal, new website for all Pacific marine fisheries information
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Press Release

By the end of this week it will take as much effort as pushing a button for you to have access to a wealth of quality marine and fisheries information from the Pacific. Gone are the days of having to trawl through different websites and constant library visits as you search for information on Pacific marine fisheries and environment.

With thanks to the cooperation and contribution of all regional agencies who work in this area, the soon to be launched Pacific Islands Marine Portal (http://www.pimrisportal.org) has brought everything together in the one website, making life a lot easier when it comes to seeking out information on Pacific marine environment and fisheries.

PIMRIS, the Pacific Islands Marine Resources Information System is a Pacific network consisting of agencies from the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP), it has been in operation for the past two decades focusing on building capacity in knowledge management in fisheries departments throughout the Pacific region.

Taking it a step further, PIMRIS has engaged in a new project in partnership with the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange Programme (IODE) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO to provide an online gateway to all information available to the marine resource sector in the Pacific.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) was instrumental in developing the portal structure and identifying resources and content to populate the portal and will continue to work in partnership with University of the South Pacific, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission and Forum Fisheries Agency to further develop the portal in 2010.

The success of this project relies heavily upon the input and ownership of the CROP agencies and partners. It calls upon the ongoing collaboration between regional agencies and national fisheries departments and will continue to do so in the future to ensure the information remains current and the portal is active.

“PIMRIS is a collaborative effort that is supported by all the Pacific Islands and their regional organisations. It is a testament to the value and strength of cooperation and partnership where the sum of the collective work is more then the sum of its individual parts,” said Dr Joeli Veitayaki, Head of the Division of Marine Studies, USP.

In 2008 and 2009, funding was provided by IODE to allow for several meetings in which the CROP agencies and partners involved could come together to discuss how this was going to work, and to develop the portal. The portal is hosted by the Project Office for IODE in Oostende, Belgium

The portal has been designed so that it is user friendly and will be helpful to a wide range of people. Policy makers will be able to visit it for data and information at regional level; school children will be able to visit it to for information for schools and those in the community will find it a useful access point for generic information. It contains information from the Pacific region and is available for use by all.

Our Pacific marine environment faces great threats right now and the Year of Biodiversity has raised once again important facts which we must face. The International Union for Conservation of Nature notes that 6 marine turtles out of 7 are all threatened with extinction, 75% of the world’s fisheries are fully or over exploited and one third of reef-building corals around the world are threatened with extinction.

“We need to act fast to secure and provide our people with the resources and development activities that will allow them to have dignified and successful lives while protecting the integrity and health of the natural systems that support our lives,” said Dr Joeli Veitayaki.

“The best way to do that is to learn the lessons from the past and then use our best science and technology to formulate and implement sustainable development activities and resource management arrangements for use in all of our communities and countries. For that challenge, we need to have access to the best information we can get, which is what the PIMRIS Portal offers.”

Not only will there be a launch of the PIMRIS portal in Fiji this week, but the acknowledgement of another information project under this portal. The PIMRIS regional repository is about ensuring Pacific islands countries and territories will be able to provide preservation in digital format and better access to their country documents. The Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati and Samoa are involved in a pilot project developing the capacity of each of the country fisheries departments to manage their fisheries documents and to allow each country to be able to upload national documents in digital format to the regional repository.

Photo Caption: www.pimrisportal.org, a new point of entry to information about marine and fisheries resources of the Pacific.