Prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has admonished the Samoan public for being lax in heeding warnings from the Ministry of Health on the dengue fever outbreak.
Photo: RNZI / Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia
The outbreak has claimed five lives since October.
On Thursday, Tuilaepa told Radio 2AP that there had been a strong educational campaign by the ministry on prevention but people did not seem to be listening.
"They don't listen and take action on these prevention issues but when they get sick they start complaining, but the Ministry is doing it's job," he said.
The prime minster called on village based women's health committees to work more diligently in ridding the country of dengue through clean up campaigns.
He also challenged village mayors to be in the forefront of the effort.
"The village mayors and government representatives should take the lead and if people are not cleaning up, then they should do this themselves," urged Tuilaepa.