Resolution calls for funding for preventative health measures for NCDs

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The alarming rate of the spread of cancer and other prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has prompted the Senate President to call for more awareness.

Senate President, Tuaolo Manaia Fruean introduced a resolution on Friday to highlight the alarming rate of cancer and non-communicable diseases that plague the community, especially among Samoan women.

This resolution is meant to call attention to the need to garner more resources and funding for education and preventative health measures to be instituted.

According to the resolution the American Samoa Department of Human and Social Services and the Department of Health conducted a an adult survey in 2018 to collect data regarding NCDs in American Samoa.

 “NCDs refer to diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes among others.

 “All health related data shows American Samoa, along with many of its Pacific region neighbors have been inundated and overwhelmed with NCDs that are currently the leading causes of death and disability among our people.

 “The NCD adult hybrid survey is a collaborative effort between regional and federal partners such as the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the secretariat of the South Pacific Community, the Pacific Island Health Officers Association, the American Samoa Government and the people American Samoa.

 “The aim of the report was to assess the current prevalence of NCDs and the select risk factors for NCDs and the survey conducted questioned adults, aged 18 or older —both male and female.

 “It was conducted across all socio-economic lines.

 They survey asked general health related questions such as their access to health care and also recorded their personal habits such as obesity rates, smoking rates; and alcohol use rates.

The survey showed 67% of women in the age groups surveyed have never received a clinical breast exam and of women ages 21-65, only 59.2% have never had a Pap smear.

 “A Pap smear is a cancer screening test for cervical cancer which is the 4th leading cancer in the world for women and the result of this survey makes one thing abundantly clear, we must do better for our people’s healthcare.

 “We must institute new lifestyle enrichment programs to help educate our people on the NCDs that afflict us by going into the villages and churches to reach our community.”

The resolution says “we must take politics out of our healthcare system so the primary concern will only be providing the best healthcare for all.

 “This resolution encourages Governor Lemanu to do all that is necessary to help LBJ Tropical Medical Center and the Department of Health to carry out their missions to ensure good health for the people of American Samoa .

 “This may begin with providing more funding for the necessary resources to hire additional qualified doctors,”  as well as nurses and other medical professional for both JBJ and DOH to carry out their mandates.

 “It is also important to generate more public awareness on the importance to screening for cancer, especially for Samoan women, and creating a process that will make it easy for the public to attend these screenings without any unnecessary difficulties.”

The resolution concludes by calling on the American Samoa Government to reevaluate the current programs and resources and to allocate proper funding for immediate preventative health measures to be instituted.