Accounting firm B.D.O. New Zealand and Samoa have contributed to efforts to eradicate the measles virus in Samoa with a $10,000 donation. 

The donation was presented last Friday to Ulu Bismarck Crawley, the Chairman of the Disaster Advisory Committee, at the Apia branch of the National Emergency Operation Centre, which has been overseeing the inter-governmental response to the outbreak.

A donation directly from New Zealand amounted to $8,400, while B.D.O.'s Samoa office made up the balance to reach a total contribution of $10,000.

An accountant and one of the firm's Senior Partners, Oloipola Terrence Betham, said B.D.O.'s international partner felt the urge to lend Samoa a hand as they had to come to the island earlier this life to experience life in Samoa first hand. 

"They love Samoa and for us B.D.O. Samoa, this is our country and we feel for what is happening, especially for the babies and mothers," he said.

Oloipola said their organisation is one of the lucky ones, without any of their employees being victimised [by the measles epidemic] but they do have pregnant staff who took on special measures to protect themselves and their unborn child.

Other than the monetary assistance, B.D.O. has also made in-kind contributions to the Government's mass vaccination programme during the recent national shutdown implemented to facilitate a mass door-to-door vaccination campaign. 

"We [were also] so privileged to give two of our cars and four of our staff during the two day mass vaccination," he said.

"We paid for our staff's salaries and so we provided a pickup and another car and we feel that whatever we can do, unlimited as it is, if it's only a small token, it's something that is nationwide effort, to help our people.

"And we're very [grateful for] the way [Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, the] Cabinet and [the] Government, and Ulu and his team, who have worked long hours to coordinate all this."

Oloipola said that that the organisation hopes that Samoa has seen the peak of the epidemic so that it's children can "live again" in a care-free environment.