ARPA Funding: Plans for drug rehab facility still 2-3 years in the future

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — During a news conference early last week, Health director Motusa Tuileama Nua shared a summary of DoH projects to be funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and the projects further serve health care needs of American Samoa. DoH is also looking at planning a drug rehabilitation facility sometime in the future.

The ASG Oversight Office for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) two weeks ago released funding requirements for DoH projects and that DoH is required to submit proposals for the intended use of ARPA funds in compliance with the Oversight Office’s established guidelines.

Oversight Office documents show that $24 million has been allocated for a Mental/Behavioral Health Facility and Services and $20 million for a Community Health Center. It also noted the requirement for public hearings in accordance with the intent of ARPA funds. (See Samoa News edition Dec. 22nd for details.)

During the DoH news conference, Motusa announced that in about 30-days or less, DoH would issue notices and also public hearings on DoH projects that will be funded by ARPA money.

 He gave a summary, explaining that some of the DoH projects have to be approved and coordinated with the government to support American Samoa and the LBJ Medical Center “that will also allow LBJ to get to a much higher level of service.”

“So sometime in the future we hope to cutback on our referrals off island or nearby countries,” he said, referring to the off-island medical referral program which is overseen by LBJ.

Some of the DoH priority projects include expanding its laboratory in Tafuna and that will “expand our service and centralize our drug testing” capability — which is a service provided to the government and also the private sector, he noted.

And that will also convert the LBJ laboratory to serving just those inside the hospital and not DoH and the community.

DoH is also looking at planning a drug rehabilitation facility sometime in the future between two to three years, as part of DoH five-year plan, he said, and noted that another project is a mental health facility in Tafuna.

Also part of DoH efforts is upgrading and improving DoH clinics on the outer islands. For Aunu’u island, DoH held a public hearing there, two weekends ago and Motusa thanked village leaders and residents for their support.

“For a while we have been working with the village council of Aunu’u to secure land to build a clinic for Aunu’u,” he said, noting that it is especially important to have a clinic there during adverse weather conditions, and to help senior citizens and children with special needs on Aunu’u.

“All those folks do have health care needs and we are looking at building a health care system to support Aunu’u,” he said.

For the Manu’a island group, DoH is looking at relocating the Ta’u health center “to higher elevation, likely next to [Ta’u] high school, to support the students and get a little bit closer to the village of Fitiuta, giving Fitiuta residents equal access to health care,” he said.

Additionally, there are plans for updates and improvements to the the Ofu health center, which also serves Olosega island.  And DoH hopes to move this project forward in the 30-days.