The project to construct a new hall at Moto'otua for the country's nursing profession remains in limbo amid safety concerns for the old building.

Samoa Nurses Association (SNA) President Solialofi Papalii told Samoa Observer on Tuesday that plans for the new hall had already been discussed, and the reconstruction work was supposed to start but to date, no action has been taken.

"The nurses are still using the hall now and then but for free now because of the condition it's now in and although we kept telling the nurses not to use it anymore, they still use it," Mrs. Papalii said. 

"This was one of the matters we discussed in our two-day conference last week with the P.S.C. and during the discussions on the hall I informed them that we had already discussed plans for the hall."

According to Mrs. Papalii, they are still waiting for a response from the Health Director General, Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma. While the old S.N.A. building is in a dilapidated state, she said it is still being used for morning services for all nurses as well as meetings and events.

Events that are organised by non-S.N.A. members and held at the nursing hall attract a fee, which is collected by the association and added to its income. 

Last year the S.N.A. had hoped that the New Zealand government would commit to the full funding of the nurses' hall after already contributing to the earlier costs of the architectural design for the building.

Former New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern had committed NZD$2 million to the costs of the project, but the full estimates will depend on the final design. 

Mrs. Papalii said they have hopes that Samoa's Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa would take up the appeal for added assistance with the New Zealand government.

The old two-storey wooden nurses' building is still being used on the ground floor while the top half is currently rundown due to a leaking roof and is considered unsafe.