Non-communicable diseases (N.C.D.s) are rampant in Samoa and a General Practitioner has opened a new clinic in Apia to focus on Samoans with lifestyle diseases.

Papalii Dr. Samuelu Petaia, who has been a GP for 45 years and during that time saw the rate of N.C.D.s grow in Samoa, is the medical officer behind the new clinic. The clinic is called the Petaia Medical Clinic with his services revolving around his goal to find solutions to tackle N.C.D.s through primary health care interventions.

“I opened this clinic specifically for the elderly and for non-communicable diseases. As you know these days it is a big problem that Samoa is facing. Diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, obesity, mental problems and cancer are on the rise now and it is a silent killer,” said Papalii.

 “We don’t forget about our other patients. When mothers and their babies come in we check them but my main aim here is for the elderly and N.C.D.s. This is a clinic where you spend time with the patients and examine them and once you find something abnormal in your screening then you investigate before you start treatment.” 

Papalii said general practitioners play a crucial role in society and can help address N.C.D.s at their earlier stages through regular checkups before they become a problem later in life. 

“This is primary care; the hospital is secondary care and overseas is tertiary care," he said. "The government and the hospital are running short of money taking people overseas for treatment when it can be addressed at the earlier stage at the primary level.

“This is the frontline and if Samoa wants to improve their healthcare for the people, we should focus on primary healthcare and just teach the people the basics of a healthy lifestyle.

“The National Kidney Foundation is full and I was chairman for six years so I saw it grow, and so I know the problem very well and it is really growing. You can imagine 150 now on dialysis and there’s about 400 on the waiting list.” 

According to Papalii, this is a lifelong process for the patients and their families and it can be prevented at the earlier stages with regular visits to doctors, changing of diet and making wiser choices.