Local company, Tank Guy Samoa, has offered financial assistance worth $1,000 to help with the fight against measles.

The handover ceremony took place on Tuesday at the National Emergency Operation Centre in town.

To date, a total of 80 lives have been lost to the measles epidemic. 

Fiti Sauoleafiafi Fiti, a representative from Tank Guy Samoa, said the idea of offering assistance came from their Managing Director, Auga Farrell Craig.

“Our boss decided that as Samoa is heading into the festive season we should keep alive the spirit of gift-giving during Christmas,” he said.

“Tank Guy has two branches one in Samoa and another in American Samoa.

“There is also another assistance that is being carried out at the hospital where 200 gift bags are given out to the measles patients thanks to various donors towards the Samoa mo Samoa organisation.”

He added that the aim of the assistance is uplifting the spirits of those who are suffering at the Motootua hospital.

“We wanted to uplift the spirits of those who are burdened by sadness or worry within the hospital walls as they are undergoing treatment or caregivers looking after their loved ones.

“Christmas is always a time of joy and cheer but with our country being affected by the epidemic we are torn between the two emotions.

“It is because celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is a joyful occasion but we also want to give them hope and try and encourage them to have faith in God.”

Fiti added that the son of Auga is facilitating the hospital visit.

“A message we would like to relay to our people is to not lose hope during these difficult times, let us move on from what has come to pass.

“Let us look ahead to the future because the sun will always rise again and not to forget that anything is possible with God

“We must unite as one people, our company wish to offer our deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones but let us rejoice upon the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Chairman of the National Disaster Advisory Committee, Ulu Bismarck Crawley, accepted the assistance from Tank Guy.
 “We thank you for your kind and generous hearts to offer help our people who are in great need.

“The measles has slowly died down but there are still patients at the hospital and this assistance is for them.”