The impact of the measles crisis is being felt by most sectors of the Samoan community.

Vendors selling home-made handicrafts at the Savalalo market have not escaped the negative impact on their businesses.

According to them, this time of the year is one the busiest seasons with hundreds of visitors around. 

That is not happening this year.

“If we are lucky, we earn around $60 a day, sometimes we get more than that and sometimes no sales at all,” says one of the vendors.

They understand the situation Samoa is in with the measles epidemic but they are hoping for things to return to normality soon.

“We are praying and hoping that this deadly measles which have claimed the lives of so many children be healed soon,” she added.

Their only buyers are Samoan based overseas who are here for family commitments or vacations.

The State of Emergency issued by the Government isn’t a problem for the vendors and they support it. 

For them, safety should be the priority of any individual.

“Tourists that come into our country love to buy souvenirs from us because these handicrafts are designed based on our FaaSamoa, and to them it is very unique”, she added.

Although their sales have dropped, they remain optimistic.

They expressed their heartfelt sympathy to all the victims of the measles epidemic and praying for a safe and peaceful Christmas for Samoa.