Samoa's dire economic conditions have not dampened the spirit of the women's council of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (C.C.C.S.), which has made a SAT$70,000 donation to Samoa's health sector.

A ceremony was held at the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) office at Moto'otua on Friday, where representatives of the Tautua Puapuaga o Tagata (T.P.T.) officially handed over its annual monetary donation of $70,000, to the Ministry's Deputy Director General, Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen.

The donation will be distributed separately to various divisions within the Ministry with $10,000 going to the national hospital; $10,000 to hospitals in Savai'i; $30,000 to the National Kidney Foundation Samoa (N.K.F.S.) Moto'otua; and $20,000 to the N.K.F.S. Tuasivi in Savai'i.

Tagaloa thanked the T.P.T. representatives for their ongoing support to the Ministry which included the National Kidney Foundation.

"We're very grateful for the ongoing support by T.P.T. and this assistance will greatly help the Ministry with its operations and planned activities and programs not only in Upolu but also in Savai'i," he said.

The N.K.F.S. General Manager, Mulipola Lose (Roger) Hazelman, who was also at the presentation, acknowledged the generosity of the women's group over the years to the health sector including the foundation. 

"I came to N.K.F.S. in 2008 and the T.P.T has been doing this every year up to this year," he said. "As many would know, we moved from the old place to a bigger building because the patients' demand has increased.

"I think this kind of donation will greatly support N.K.F.S. by purchasing chairs for the patients to use while waiting for their treatments since the Government has already approved more machines."

The T.P.T. is by the national council of women of the C.C.C.S. which compromises the wives of church ministers. Money is collected and saved until it is handed over at every annual church conference (Fonotele) before a handover ceremony is convened where it is handed over to the M.O.H.

President of the women's council, Tafao Misipalauni Faatau as well as her executives, Saiaigaeva Saviti Etuale (vice president), Feula Uta Muaulu (secretary), and Tamara Auatama Esera (treasurer) were present at the official handover of the donation.