KEY POINTS:
APIA, Samoa: Samoa has been accused of ignoring the severity of the typhoid issue locally, by Representative of the World Health Organisation in Samoa Dr Kevin Palmer.
In an interview with Newsline Samoa, Dr Palmer said he was disappointed at the lack of effort put into the typhoid problem by the Government of Samoa.
"This is a big issue, and it has been present in Samoa for a long time and no one is doing anything about it," Dr Palmer said.
The frustrated WHO representative accused Samoa of focusing on the exotic and not on reality.
"This is a basic health issue, yet Samoa is deliberating exotic health problems when typhoid is in your backyard," Dr Palmer said.
For years now, the national hospital has reported a consistent number of typhoid cases, and according to published reports sometimes up to 12 cases are diagnosed in a day.
"This is a serious issue, and it seems the Ministry of Health does not understand the gravity of the situation," Dr Palmer said.
In March last year three cases of typhoid were diagnosed in Porirua, New Zealand and linked to Samoa.
According to investigations at the time, the most likely source of infection was the consumption of food brought to New Zealand from Samoa.
After the cases were reported, Dr Palmer said the regional headquarters of WHO considered issuing a health warning on the cross border spread of typhoid from Samoa.
"But there was some agreement between Samoa and New Zealand to do something about it, therefore the warning was never issued," Dr Palmer said.
Now, almost a year later the number of typhoid cases in Samoa is still consistent and the WHO representative says it shouldn't be the case.
The Ministry of Health was contacted for comment and Chief Executive Officer Palanitina Toelupe said 'ignoring' was the wrong word to use in this case.
"Ignoring is the wrong word, we are not ignoring that typhoid exists in Samoa," she said.
Toelupe said she empathized with the frustration of WHO.
"I can understand where WHO is coming from, perhaps they expect a major undertaking on the issue, but this is not just about typhoid, we have to look at the food, water and sanitation, there is a lot to do in regards to this problem. This is a multi-sectoral issue, and it involves more than one Ministry," Toelupe said.
Asked if the Ministry does acknowledge that there is a typhoid problem in Samoa, Toelupe said: "Although I don't have the latest updated on figures in regards to typhoid we do acknowledge the constant number of people with typhoid."
The CEO said the Ministry would not merely act on suspicion of typhoid, but rather on the confirmation that such a problem exists.
She said: "There is a set laboratory process that these cases must undergo before they are confirmed as typhoid."
Although Toelupe affirmed that the concern is real, she did say that there is no outbreak of typhoid in Samoa.
According to her, the current trend of cases should not be consistent but rather fluctuate to show a change in pattern of infection rates.
"Yes, it shouldn't' be consistent," she expressed.
Toelupe was asked if the Ministry of Health is prioritizing the issue.
"This is an integral responsibility of Samoa. We are working hard on the water quality side, with projects underway, and the Ministry continues to advocate on personal hygiene and health practices, because this is really a basic health problem."
Toelupe says although there are attempts by the MOH to find the cause of typhoid in Samoa, it needs to be a collaborative effort between several Ministries.
Shoe could not confirm the specific cause of typhoid in Samoa.
"We cannot confirm that it's water borne," she said.
Typhoid is medically defined as an acute, highly infectious disease caused by the typhoid bacillus, Salmonella typhosa, transmitted by contaminated food or water and characterized by bad rashes, high fever, bronchitis, and intestinal haemorrhaging.
- NEWSLINE SAMOA
