A hospital in Apia. Photo: RNZ Pacific / Jenny Meyer
Samoan patients seeking overseas medical treatment on the rise
The Samoan government has started to look at ways of accommodating the increasing number of patients seeking overseas treatment.
The Samoa Observer reports the prime minister saying the Ministry of Health has been tasked with providing a plan to allow more people to get treatment under the overseas medical scheme funding, but not necessarily at overseas facilities.
The government approved an additional $4 million tālā for the overseas medical scheme in March this year, on top of the allocated $8 million tālā in the 2021-2022 budget that was used up before the end of the financial year.
One option Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa spoke of is an agreement with a cardiologist clinic in Fiji that can assess, screen, diagnose and operate on patients in Fiji and there is hope it can be done in Samoa.
Fiame said the Tupua Tamasese Meaole hospital has to have the capacity and be well equipped in order to have the service available locally where more people can be treated.
She also spoke of possible assistance from the Samoa Medical Association of New Zealand.
Samoa has high rates of non-communicable diseases.
FSM no longer requires a Covid-19 vaccination booster
A Covid-19 vaccination booster is no longer required for entry into the Federated States of Micronesia.
President David Panuelo has signed an amendment allowing this change.
Full vaccination is still required, and a person is considered fully vaccinated after two doses of an mRNA vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
As of October 10th, all of the FSM's states are fully open for interstate and international travel.
Travellers can still expect to be asked for proof of vaccination and to complete a Health Declaration Form.
Fisheries scientists and technical experts gather in New Caledonia
Pacific fisheries scientists and technical experts have gathered in New Caledonia to discuss challenges within the region's aquaculture industry.
The region's leading science and technical agency, the Pacific Community, provides support to national fisheries agencies by improving fisheries policies and building capacity for monitoring, control and surveillance.
SPC Aquaculture adviser Tim Pickering said depending on the seriousness of issues discussed within the aquaculture conference, it would be a matter for the government to address.
"We provide guidance on technical matters to our members through our outcomes document which should be carried out to our policy level and if they consider it to have enough weight it could go even further up to the regional fishery ministers meeting or even to Pacific leaders themselves," he said.
PNG Orchids head to England
The PNG Orchids are heading to England to prepare for the women's Rugby League World Cup, which kicks off on November 1st.
PNG-based players and staff were to depart Port Moresby on Monday to join the Australian-based ones in Brisbane, with the full squad set to fly to the UK on Wednesday.
The Post Courier reports the Orchids were to have their pre-tournament training camp in Leeds, where they will be based for the duration of the event.
PNG Orchids Photo: Troy Taule/PNGRFL
The team will play a warm-up match against the York City Knights club on October 20th.
The Orchids have been drawn in group A of the tournament and their pool matches will be against Canada, Brazil, and England.
Tonga and UAE sign air agreement
An Air Services Agreement has been signed between Tonga and the United Arab Emirates.
Tonga's ministry of foreign affairs announced the signing between Tonga's minister for infrastructure, Sevenitini Toumo'ua, and UAE's minister of economy Abdulla Al Marri.
Tonga's ministry of foreign affairs said the deal paves the way for Emirates and Ethiad Airways to operate in Tonga.
Currently, Tonga only receives international flights from Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Fiji Airways and Samoa's Talofa Airways.
Samoa and the UAE have also recently signed an air service agreement.
CNMI football coach defends team being at Asian Cup
The Northern Marianas under-17 football team has had its place in the Asian Cup Qualifiers questioned after a 23-nil drubbing by Australia.
Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director and national head coach Michiteru Mita Photo: RNZ Pacific/Mark Rabago
The team trended on social media in the football world after many questioned its participation in the AFC Under-17 Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers, which upset Northern Mariana Islands Football Association technical director and national head coach Michiteru Mita.
This came after the US territory lost heavily in its first game against the Aussies.
In its second match, the CNMI limited powerhouse China to four goals in the first half before eventually losing 11-nil.
In a story that ran in online football sites and Australian local media, the coach was quoted as saying he knew they are very small, and he saw all the Facebook comments saying they shouldn't be there.
But he said these tournaments are very important for them.
He said they know they are small and young, but they try to develop their football because they use football to develop their community.
FSM vaka leaves Samoa for the Cook Islands
The Vaka Motu Okeanos Waa'Qab canoe has left Samoa on the final leg of its journey which will end in the Cook Islands.
The Samoa Observer reports the 50-foot double-hulled ocean canoe left Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia on September 10th for the Cook Islands via Samoa.
The Samoa Voyaging Society hosted the Micronesians and assisted with restocking fresh food and treats.
The Society president Memea Lyvia Black said their crew who have voyaged before brought in goods for the crew, especially treats like hot chocolates, cartons of milk, and masi or biscuits.
Captain Karl Steffany of the voyaging society presented the Captain of Waa'Qab with a rock with an 'afa' sennit tied around it, as a commemoration of their visit to Apia.