Samoa's measles epidemic has taken a severe toll on people's mental health, says a team providing support to affected families.
This picture released from UNICEF Samoa shows a girl receiving a vaccine during a nationwide campaign against measles in the Samoan town of Le'auva'a. Photo: ALLAN STEPHEN / UNICEF / AFP
Since the outbreak was declared in October, 83 people have died, most of them children.
The Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations, or SUNGO, recently travelled to the island of Savai'i, providing food, supplies and counselling.
The group's chief executive, Fuimaono Vaitolo Ofoia, said the Christmas period was a struggle for many families in Samoa.
"It's a weird experience for them because of this traumatic disease and the circumstances they have gone through, the trauma, it's beyond any other."
Fuimaono said long-term support would be crucial.
This picture released on December 5 by UNICEF Samoa shows nurse Fa'atafa Tavita (R) speaking with a family at the Apia Town Clinic in Samoa's capital city Apia. Photo: AFP PHOTO / UNICEF / ALLAN STEPHEN
Meanwhile, parents in Samoa are struggling to meet strict new school enrolment requirements introduced in response to the country's measles epidemic.
Parents enrolling their kids in schools are now required by law to show proof that they have been immunised against measles.
According to TV1 Samoa, the Ministry of health is charging $US14 for proof of immunisation documents.
The ministry said its records department was struggling to cope with the demand for the documents with many parents reportedly queuing for hours to be served.
Low herd immunity was one of the main reasons Samoa was so badly affected by measles.
However, the government said its mass immunisation program had been a huge success with more than 95 percent of the target population now immunised against measles.