Recent grant will advance diabetes care and prevention in Am Samoa

Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 23rd, 2026, Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula met with Dr. Kendall Shumway, Dr. Kamlesh Kumar and Tiffany Shumway regarding the Amputation Prevention and Wound Care Training Initiative which recently received $366,000 in TAP/MAP funding through the Department of Interior (DOI).

The grant will further the territory's ongoing efforts to address diabetes-related complications affecting the community. "This federal investment directly addresses one of our most pressing health challenges," said Governor Pulaali'i. "

According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, American Samoa has the highest diabetes prevalence among all Pacific Island nations.

Preventing complications such as amputations is our ethical duty. This initiative will save lives and preserve the quality of life for our people. Alongside this clinical work, the governor launched the ASG Wellness Hour Initiative, encouraging all government departments to implement wellness activities every Tuesday and Thursday to promote diabetes prevention among our workforce."

WHO data shows that approximately 47-50% of women and 40-43% of men aged 25-64 in American Samoa have diabetes, significantly higher than any other Pacific nation. This gender disparity, with women affected 7-10 percentage points more than men, highlights the urgent need for targeted intervention programs. The grant will fund critical improvements to American Samoa's healthcare infrastructure, including:

• Purchase of a new Duplex Ultrasound machine to diagnose vascular issues and circulation problems earlier

• Training for local healthcare personnel on risk assessment and early intervention protocols

• Wound care supplies and equipment

• Screening tools and protocols for early detection of diabetic neuropathy

Since Dr. Kumar established the wound care clinic at LBJ Tropical Medical Center in 2016, there has been a significant reduction in major lower extremity amputations, demonstrating the impact of specialized wound care services and early intervention. A substantial portion of hospital inpatients and surgical workload are diabetes-related, underscoring the critical need for upstream prevention efforts.

"Our goal is to identify patients with early neuropathy and intervene before complications progress to amputation," explained Dr. Kumar, who serves as the primary provider for the wound care clinic. "This grant allows us to expand our capacity, train more healthcare workers, and reach patients earlier in their disease progression." This initiative will strengthen collaboration between LBJ Tropical Medical Center and the Department of Health with a focus on early screening, patient education, and integration with village-level outreach efforts.

"We are grateful to Dr. Shumway, Dr. Kumar, LBJ Grants team and other local health stakeholders who worked alongside the Governor's Office and DOI Field Office to secure this funding. It reflects our shared commitment to improving health outcomes for American Samoa," said Governor Pulaalii.

For more information about the Amputation Prevention and Wound Care Training Initiative, please contact: Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Email: [email protected] Dr. Kendall Shumway Email: [email protected]