New Chief of Emergency Medical Services named

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A long time emergency medical technician has been named the new Chief of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division of the Search and Rescue Department.

Joseph Fa'aita was appointed Dec. 20 and it was announced in a memorandum issued last month.

Faaita, who has been employed at EMS for 35 years and was the first locally trained EMT with Paramedic certification from Kapiolani University of Hawaii in 2000. He also holds a bachelor's degree in healthcare management from South University. 

He replaces 20 year+ veteran of EMS Galumalemana Popo Avegalio, who was removed from the post, also in December. To date there has been no official explanation for the move.

Samoa News understands Galumalemana was put on leave, after a difference of opinion with the newly minted director of the Search & Rescue Department, of which EMS is now a part; and, the former head of EMS is currently reviewing options with the HR department.

BACKGROUND

EMS growing pains surfaced most recently in 2022 with the close of the old EMS building across from the hospital and its transfer to the then-newly established Search and Rescue Agency. Budgeting problems then arose before the Fono approved a bill legalizing the Department of Search and Rescue.