Health Care, Disease Control, Crime and Safety in Samoa

The State recognizes health needs of its people through the Ministry of Health Act 2006. This provides for the empowerment of the Ministry for the administration and regulation of the medical sector that encompasses health districts, facilities, and practitioners.

In 2008, health statistics revealed that life expectancy for the general population is 72 years (male at 69 and female at 75); fertility rate is four (per woman); contraceptive use is 30%; crude birth rate is 27 (per 1000 people); infant mortality rate is 29%; adult mortality rate (per 1000 people) are 235 (male) and 203 (female); and GDP health expenditure is at 6%.

Health services are facilitated through the 14 medical districts each supervised by a designated medical officer. Hospital accommodation is limited to three beds per 1000 people. Hospital care is made accessible by the national hospital (in Apia), district hospitals, and one private hospital. Also, there are medical and dental clinics all throughout the nation.

Medical practitioners are disseminated among the districts considering their limited number. In fact, there were only 50 physicians in 1990. In particular, distribution of health professionals (per 1000 people) later in 1996 is characterized by 0.3 medical doctors, 0.4 dental doctors, and 1.6 resident nurses.

Health programs in the 1990’s were launched to arrest prevalent diseases. Infant vaccination rates include 95% on diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and tetanus; and 98% on measles and tuberculosis. Reported cases of AIDS and tuberculosis were eighteen and four, respectively. Smoking rate is 53% on men and 19% on women, too.