Our work in American Samoa

Our work in American Samoa

The WHO Representative Office for Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau is located in Apia, Samoa. It operates under the umbrella of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manilla, Philippines. The role of the Office is to act as a catalyst and advocate for action at all levels, from local to global, on health issues of public concern. We work together with a broad spectrum of partners, from all sectors of society, and are involved in a host of closely related public health activities including technical cooperation, capacity building, advocacy and awareness raising, research, and evaluation. 

 

 

 

 

Pacific Islands–WHO multi-country cooperation strategy 2024–2029

The Pacific Islands–WHO Multi-country Cooperation Strategy 2024–2029, or MCCS, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) through a consultative process involving 21 Pacific Island countries and areas (PICs), outlines WHO’s comprehensive and tailored medium-term support plan in the Pacific. This summary provides an overview of the MCCS, highlighting its alignment with regional and global health strategies..

 

Health system and health situation

American Samoa has one main referral hospital (Lyndon B. Johnson Tropical Medical Center), and the American Samoa Department of Public Health manages public health services and is responsible for the three community centres providing primary care to the population. While the area enjoys support from the federal Government of the United States of America through grants for programmes, they are not free from persistent issues of limited human and financial resources to meet all their health needs. Partners include the American Samoa Department of Education, local organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and international partners such as the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pacific Community, which provide expertise, capacity-building and resources.

 

Pacific Islands-WHO multi-country strategic priorities

PRIORITY 1. Achieve universal health coverage

The MCCS emphasizes UHC as a critical regional priority, advocating for equitable access to quality health care for all Pacific islanders. The focus is on integrating and upgrading health services, conducting assessments, fostering partnerships, and advocating for supportive policies and good governance.

PRIORITY 2. Address noncommunicable diseases

Tackling the burden of NCDs is highlighted, with a focus on affordable access to medications, diagnostics and multisectoral action, as well as building a skilled health workforce. Evidencebased policies and programmes targeting risk factors are encouraged, along with comprehensive strategies for NCD prevention, treatment and control.

PRIORITY 3. Build resilience to health threats

The MCCS emphasizes the vulnerability of PICs to health threats, including climate change, emergencies and disease outbreaks. Building resilience involves conducting assessments, improving early warning systems and promoting climate-resilient health infrastructure. Collaboration and sharing of best practices are vital for building regional resilience.

Publications