H.E. Dr. Tuitama Leao Talalelei Tuitama, Minister of Health, Samoa
-·
Please address
all coffespondence
to the Chief Executive Officer
Government of Samoa
M ~y of lleHon Minister of Health
Office of the Chief Executive Officer
Private Mail Bag, Motootua
Tel: (685) 68 100
Facsimile: (685) 26.553
Speech at the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable
Development
Session nine 12th July 2017
Subject: Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing
world: Taking forward the Samoa Pathway.
Mr Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States
(SIDS) which was held in Apia, Samoa, from the 1 st to the 4 th September
2014, focused the world's attention on a group of countries that remain a
special case for sustainable development due to their unique and
particular vulnerabilities.
I had the privilege of hosting the SIDS side event on Health and NonCommunicable
Diseases (NCDs).
At this special side event, Samoa reaffirmed that the sustainable
development of our nations is founded on the environment,health and
well-being of our people. We noted that the current NCD epidemic in our
Pacific countries remains a major constraint to development.
The burden of NCDs in the Pacific Islands is recognised as amongst the
highest, especially in relation to the prevalence of NCDs and NCD risk
f'-:arf'nrRecent studies have shown that between 60 to 80% of deaths are
attributed to NCDs. The top 10 countries with the highest rates of
overweight and obesity as well as diabetes are mostly from the Pacific
region
At the SIDs a Pacific NCD Partnership was launched calling for a multi
sector approach to prevent and control NCDs.
Since the 2014 SIDs in Samoa much work has been done in the Pacific
Islands Countries in recognition of the increasing costs of NCDs.
In the inaugural Joint Forum Economic and Pacific Health Ministers
Meeting held in Solomon Islands 2014, the Minsters approved the
establishment of a Roadmap to develop and provide guidance towards
minimising the NCDs risk factors in Pacific Islands Countries .
This Road Map highlights the four key actions all countries in the Pacific
can take based on need, and 'best buys':
• strengthening tobacco control;
• reducing consumption of unhealthy food and drink;
• improving the efficiency of the consumer health dollar;
• strengthening evidence based policies and decisions to
ensure resources are used well
At the 20th anniversary of the Pacific Health Ministers Meeting in 2015,
the Ministers recommitted to the vision of Healthy Islands, as being
places where:
children are nurtured in body and mind;
environments invite learning and leisure;
people work and age with dignity;
ecological balance is a source of pride; and
the ocean which sustains us is protected. 1
The Ministers directed that a Healthy Islands Monitoring Framework be
developed.
2
This Healthy Islands Monitoring Framework is now in draft and will be
discussed and approved at the upcoming Pacific Health Ministers
meeting in the Cook Islands in August next month.
Mr Chairman
Our countries have small and vulnerable economies.
The combination of increasing costs of NCDs, increasing health·
expenditure, already high proportion of spending by governments on
health and slow economic growth does not bode well for the future.
A critical factor in health for Samoa and our Pacific neighbors is the
double burden of disease caused by NCDs and communicable diseases,
including, emerging and re-emerging diseases.
Mr Chairman
I would like to briefly share some of the strategies that we in Samoa are
taking to address NCDs and NCO risk factors.
By the time the Liquor, Tobacco Control, and, the Food Legislations were
passed in Parliament, we in health had created an environment of public
awareness and support for the need of these laws to protect health and
well being. The seeds sown early through targeted as well as national
health promotion programs had grown into active public support for
these laws.
A feasibility study on unhealthy foods completed in 2016 included a
Nutrient Profiling Model framework requesting an increase of 20% tax
on foods with high sugar, fat and salt content The recommendations of
this study have been endorsed by Cabinet. Preparations for
implementation is in place.
Samoa is one of the 15 successful applicants to the Framework on the
Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC) 2030 Project with the objective to
accelerate the implementation of the FCTC Treaty.
3
At the national level, Samoa is also amending the Tobacco law to require
annual licensing of Tobacco industries and outlets.
Although much work with regard to trade can be progressed at the
regional level; for the negotiation of quality trade products, so our voices
and our health requirements is heard as a region by those n1anufacturing
industries and exporting countries, much needs to be done at the
national level through legislation to enable our regional voice
demanding high quality imports (particularly food products) into our
country.
We also continue to prioritize universal access to primary healthcare and
public health services.
The Ministry of Health has contextualized the WHO Package of Essential
NCD Interventions model, into a Primary Health Care model that takes
integrates the Samoan culture and way of life.
The "PEN faa Samoa" approach took into selected communities a health
NCD screening approach. The initial trials were successful &
encouraging so we have now roll it out to cover all village communities.
The message achieved is that people in communities need to become
more health seeking and visit a health clinic for checking of sugar levels,
blood pressure, weight etc.
Samoa is also strengthening Rural District Hospitals and Health Centers
as primary health and public health hubs for improved access to health
within communities .
Mr Chairman at the start of my statement I alluded to the double burden
of disease crippling our efforts towards our Healthy Islands vision.
I now wish to address what we perceive to be one of the biggest
challenges to this vision and our development agenda.
This challenge Mr Chair is climate change and its impact on health.
4
.;
..
Climate change presents Pacific Island Nations with unique challenges
including rising sea levels, temperature rise, contamination of
freshwater resources with saltwater, coastal erosion, an increase in
extreme weather events, coral reef bleaching, and ocean acidification.
In February 2014 Samoa launched its Climate Adaptation Strategy for
Health.
In this document we recognise that the reality is grim at best.
Climate change is already impacting and will continue to have significant
impact on health. This is because climate change affects the essential
requirements for health such as clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient
and healthy food from both the land and the ocean and secure shelter.
We perceive that the risks from vector and communicable diseases will
increase as changing rainfall and other associated climate change
impacts will encourage spread of dengue, diarrhoea, malnutrition, with
worsening of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
Mr Chairman, I believe that if we are to address the threat of what we
now term as the triple burden of NCDs, communicable diseases, and the
impacts of climate change , we really need to take things seriously
now ... The mere existence and future of our small island states for the
next 100 years is grim,if drastic steps are not committed now, hence we
need to stay focus strategically and pull our strength together.
Thank you Mr Chairman for this opportunity.
5
Please address
all coffespondence
to the Chief Executive Officer
Government of Samoa
M ~y of lle
Office of the Chief Executive Officer
Private Mail Bag, Motootua
Tel: (685) 68 100
Facsimile: (685) 26.553
Speech at the United Nations High Level Political Forum on Sustainable
Development
Session nine 12th July 2017
Subject: Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing
world: Taking forward the Samoa Pathway.
Mr Chairman, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
The Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States
(SIDS) which was held in Apia, Samoa, from the 1 st to the 4 th September
2014, focused the world's attention on a group of countries that remain a
special case for sustainable development due to their unique and
particular vulnerabilities.
I had the privilege of hosting the SIDS side event on Health and NonCommunicable
Diseases (NCDs).
At this special side event, Samoa reaffirmed that the sustainable
development of our nations is founded on the environment,health and
well-being of our people. We noted that the current NCD epidemic in our
Pacific countries remains a major constraint to development.
The burden of NCDs in the Pacific Islands is recognised as amongst the
highest, especially in relation to the prevalence of NCDs and NCD risk
f'-:arf'nrRecent studies have shown that between 60 to 80% of deaths are
attributed to NCDs. The top 10 countries with the highest rates of
overweight and obesity as well as diabetes are mostly from the Pacific
region
At the SIDs a Pacific NCD Partnership was launched calling for a multi
sector approach to prevent and control NCDs.
Since the 2014 SIDs in Samoa much work has been done in the Pacific
Islands Countries in recognition of the increasing costs of NCDs.
In the inaugural Joint Forum Economic and Pacific Health Ministers
Meeting held in Solomon Islands 2014, the Minsters approved the
establishment of a Roadmap to develop and provide guidance towards
minimising the NCDs risk factors in Pacific Islands Countries .
This Road Map highlights the four key actions all countries in the Pacific
can take based on need, and 'best buys':
• strengthening tobacco control;
• reducing consumption of unhealthy food and drink;
• improving the efficiency of the consumer health dollar;
• strengthening evidence based policies and decisions to
ensure resources are used well
At the 20th anniversary of the Pacific Health Ministers Meeting in 2015,
the Ministers recommitted to the vision of Healthy Islands, as being
places where:
children are nurtured in body and mind;
environments invite learning and leisure;
people work and age with dignity;
ecological balance is a source of pride; and
the ocean which sustains us is protected. 1
The Ministers directed that a Healthy Islands Monitoring Framework be
developed.
2
This Healthy Islands Monitoring Framework is now in draft and will be
discussed and approved at the upcoming Pacific Health Ministers
meeting in the Cook Islands in August next month.
Mr Chairman
Our countries have small and vulnerable economies.
The combination of increasing costs of NCDs, increasing health·
expenditure, already high proportion of spending by governments on
health and slow economic growth does not bode well for the future.
A critical factor in health for Samoa and our Pacific neighbors is the
double burden of disease caused by NCDs and communicable diseases,
including, emerging and re-emerging diseases.
Mr Chairman
I would like to briefly share some of the strategies that we in Samoa are
taking to address NCDs and NCO risk factors.
By the time the Liquor, Tobacco Control, and, the Food Legislations were
passed in Parliament, we in health had created an environment of public
awareness and support for the need of these laws to protect health and
well being. The seeds sown early through targeted as well as national
health promotion programs had grown into active public support for
these laws.
A feasibility study on unhealthy foods completed in 2016 included a
Nutrient Profiling Model framework requesting an increase of 20% tax
on foods with high sugar, fat and salt content The recommendations of
this study have been endorsed by Cabinet. Preparations for
implementation is in place.
Samoa is one of the 15 successful applicants to the Framework on the
Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC) 2030 Project with the objective to
accelerate the implementation of the FCTC Treaty.
3
At the national level, Samoa is also amending the Tobacco law to require
annual licensing of Tobacco industries and outlets.
Although much work with regard to trade can be progressed at the
regional level; for the negotiation of quality trade products, so our voices
and our health requirements is heard as a region by those n1anufacturing
industries and exporting countries, much needs to be done at the
national level through legislation to enable our regional voice
demanding high quality imports (particularly food products) into our
country.
We also continue to prioritize universal access to primary healthcare and
public health services.
The Ministry of Health has contextualized the WHO Package of Essential
NCD Interventions model, into a Primary Health Care model that takes
integrates the Samoan culture and way of life.
The "PEN faa Samoa" approach took into selected communities a health
NCD screening approach. The initial trials were successful &
encouraging so we have now roll it out to cover all village communities.
The message achieved is that people in communities need to become
more health seeking and visit a health clinic for checking of sugar levels,
blood pressure, weight etc.
Samoa is also strengthening Rural District Hospitals and Health Centers
as primary health and public health hubs for improved access to health
within communities .
Mr Chairman at the start of my statement I alluded to the double burden
of disease crippling our efforts towards our Healthy Islands vision.
I now wish to address what we perceive to be one of the biggest
challenges to this vision and our development agenda.
This challenge Mr Chair is climate change and its impact on health.
4
.;
..
Climate change presents Pacific Island Nations with unique challenges
including rising sea levels, temperature rise, contamination of
freshwater resources with saltwater, coastal erosion, an increase in
extreme weather events, coral reef bleaching, and ocean acidification.
In February 2014 Samoa launched its Climate Adaptation Strategy for
Health.
In this document we recognise that the reality is grim at best.
Climate change is already impacting and will continue to have significant
impact on health. This is because climate change affects the essential
requirements for health such as clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient
and healthy food from both the land and the ocean and secure shelter.
We perceive that the risks from vector and communicable diseases will
increase as changing rainfall and other associated climate change
impacts will encourage spread of dengue, diarrhoea, malnutrition, with
worsening of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
Mr Chairman, I believe that if we are to address the threat of what we
now term as the triple burden of NCDs, communicable diseases, and the
impacts of climate change , we really need to take things seriously
now ... The mere existence and future of our small island states for the
next 100 years is grim,if drastic steps are not committed now, hence we
need to stay focus strategically and pull our strength together.
Thank you Mr Chairman for this opportunity.
5
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