The German Embassy in New Zealand, has provided financial assistance to the Pathology Laboratory of the National Health Service for the purchase of computer equipment.

The assistance is within the framework of the German S.E.S (Senior Expert Services) assignment of the Pathologist Dr. Gerhard Stauch, to help Samoa in building up a telepathology system. 

This system enables Samoa - without having a fully certified pathologist - to get diagnoses in a very short time and to have enormous cost savings. 

The N.H.S now has three Laptops, three battery-driven mobile printers, a data projector with tripod screen and a collection of scientific pathology books. 

The equipment will be used for teaching purposes and for the extension of the telepathology project to rural areas. 

Dr. Stauch left the country on the weekend, after training locals in telepathology.

“There are still plenty of things to do, so I will come back to this wonderful island in the middle of next year,” Dr. Stauch stated. 

Until then, the training will continue, using the modern communication systems. 

According to the Head of the Pathology Laboratory, Dr. Emmanuel Chan Chui, the six weeks of training was an amazing experience, letting locals learn a lot in a short time. 

“On the other hand, the high work ethic the senior expert asked us to provide was sometimes quite exhausting, but we are proud of our achievement!”