Samoa can rest assured that work is being done in the Pacific to deal with ear, nose, throat (ENT), and audiology diseases and infections.

A group of Chinese doctors working in Samoa had said that ENT infections were the most common cases that they had come across.

The Pacific Ear, Nose, Throat and Audiology Group (PENTAG) continues to develop and progress work in the region as ear, nose, throat (ENT), and audiology diseases and infections contribute to significant public health issues.

According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Assembly Resolution (WHA70.13), globally, 360 million people live with disabling hearing loss. At the same time, developing countries face challenges with limited resources and strategies to address hearing loss.

The Pacific health sector has been strengthening its capacity to respond to ENT and audiology diseases, and much has progressed since the first PENTAG meeting held in 2015. PENTAG continues to encourage the development and establishment of ENT services in each Pacific country’s health system compromising not just doctors and nurses but also audiologists, technicians, and speech therapists.

The 5th South Pacific Otorhinolaryngology conference was held in Nadi from the 13-16 of August 2023 followed by the PENTAG meeting. This was attended by 20 doctors and nurses working in the ENT, supported by the Pacific Community (SPC) with funding support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Dr Sione Pifeleti, President for PENTAG and designation, country, said, “The timing for the conference and meeting was at an opportune time for us to discuss, share and learn from each other. We were also part of an otorhinolaryngology training during this conference, and we were able to learn lifesaving procedures".

Dr Silina Motofaga, Team Leader for the Clinical Services Programme for the Public Health Division at SPC said the PENTAG meeting was an opportunity to finalise the draft constitution and strategic plan 2023-2025.

“Since its formation, we have been working to establish formal and sustainable mechanisms that will guide the group and advance the work of ENT and audiology services in the Pacific region,” said Dr. Motofaga.

SPC continues to work with its regional partners and donors to assist Pacific Island countries and territories in advancing this sub-specialist area of health services. Over the past years, PENTAG has received donations of specialised equipment from partners such as the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) including Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeons from Auckland New Zealand, Ernakulam Medical Center and the University of Auckland.