To improve the nation's health care, the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) was given SAT$16million for a new training facility to upgrade the quality of health and medical education for trainee doctors and nurses.

Funded by the government of Japan, the project aims to contribute to overcoming the fragility of the country's healthcare system through the education of healthcare personnel and to improve the quality of health and medical education.

Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Kamikawa Yoko signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Presence of the N.U.S Vice Chancellor, Tuifuisa'a Patila Amosa on the weekend.

 The grant assistance of up to 2.401 billion yen will also provide related equipment. The assistance is timely and relevant with the university's upcoming 40th birthday which will be celebrated this week.

Meanwhile, Smaoa's health sector constantly faces issues such as shortage of medical personnel, aging facilities, and budget shortfalls. Particularly, there is an immediate need to train and develop healthcare personnel. 

Last week it was disclosed that only five students have enrolled for medicine in year one.

Vaccinations were difficult to implement during a measles outbreak in 2019 due to a shortage of medical professionals with sufficient expertise, despite having equipment for delivering the vaccines from donor support, which underlines the urgent need to enhance health and medical education.

At the Ninth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9) held in July 2021, Japan announced priority areas of assistance, including "Strengthening Foundation for Sustainable and Resilient Economic Development" and "COVID-19 Response and Recovery." 

This grant assistance will help to realise these goals.

At PALM9, under the Pacific Bond (Kizuna) Policy, Japan announced the continuation of development assistance over the next three years in five priority areas which include COVID-19 response and recovery, sustainable oceans based on the rule of law, climate change and disaster resilience, strengthening foundation for sustainable and resilient economic development, and people-to-people exchanges and human resource development for over 5,500 people.