Why do we do what we do?

By The Editorial Board 25 October 2024, 10:00AM

Some pictures speak a thousand words and the front-page picture on Wednesday 23 October of a family in Tufulele did just that. It spoke of the reality that some families in the country live in.

This reality shows the truth of society, the particular side that everyone knows about but does not talk about. That one picture and the accompanying article highlight issues that need attention. The article is about a family of eight, parents and their six children.

Poverty exists in its worst forms and there are no social welfare reliefs to help such families. There are families whose combined income does not exceed $10,000 per annum. This is a family that lives in a thatched fale and have had no water supply for seven years.

While the family is responsible for its water supply and electricity, there should be avenues where families in such circumstances can be aided.

The situation of the family also highlights how the district development grants can be used in a much better way. The $1 million is given to help such people lift the standard of living but this shows that grants are not being used for this purpose.

There is a constant struggle for bus fares to send children to school. Again, this is something the district grant can be used to help children of families who are living in poverty. This is also a reason why the government needs to make education free, including the provision of textbooks and bus fares for children.

The lack of water also means a lack of sanitation and this is evident from the various skin ailments on the children. This is not normal. The children are also not taken to hospital for these ailments because there is no extra money to do this.

The biggest concern is that immunization of children in such families nationwide is lacking. The Ministry of Health has found that these are the families whose children are missing out on vaccinations and herd immunization to eradicate diseases like measles is not achieved.

By highlighting this family, this newspaper has also highlighted the lack of family planning among families living in poverty. There is no awareness of contraception and birth control. Such topics are not discussed at village councils and in women’s committees. There are health impacts of this, especially on women.

There have been keyboard warriors who have been quick to jump the gun and comment on why the newspaper needed to highlight this story during a time when the world was in Samoa. We do not care about what keyboard warriors have to say, because all they do is talk and become overnight experts on matters that they have no understanding of.

The Samoa Observer will highlight such issues irrespective of who is in the country. Stop painting a pretty picture when things are not rosy. This is the type of attitude that allows people to get away with corruption, and failure to address social issues. Governments need to be reminded of such things because as watchdogs, if we do not do that, then we have lost our cause.

If the plight of such families is not brought out, some people will keep believing that this does not exist in Samoa. These are the issues that need to be dealt with. If $40 million can be spent on CHOGM in two years, then $5 million a year can be used to help such families, another $5 million can be used to boost vaccination drives, another $5 million to make education free for children living in poverty and perhaps another $5 million to promote family planning and reproductive health. This is also a call for district councils to evaluate how they have been spending their $ 1 million.

Minister for Works, Infrastructure and Transport Olo Fiti Vaai told a New Zealand-based media that Samoa Observer is only concentrating on the negative element of the $25 million regional terminal. When the terminal was opened, we highlighted the importance of it, and four months ago we also highlighted the groundbreaking ceremony.

But if something is not right and lacks accountability and wreaks of corruption, we will also highlight that. We do not take sides, we look at wrong and right.

We do our best to keep the people of this country informed whether we are appreciated for it or not. Free, independent media allow the public to make informed decisions, hold leaders accountable, and hear a diversity of opinions — all free of government influence.

 

By The Editorial Board 25 October 2024, 10:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>