Reformed Ministry of Health needs to return to basics

Dear Editor,

Re: NHS/MOH Merger

It has been been an interesting week.

Parliament passed the MOH Act to merge the NHS & MOH (again) and your issue of 29th Jan and 2nd Feb highlighted alcohol and cancer as major health issues. 

No doubt the reformed MOH has a plateful of health problems to deal with, not the least being non-communicable diseases which is bankrupting the country … diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and cancer being the leading causes of illness and death. 

The reformed MOH needs to return to the basics and hopefully the new top-level reshuffle of service delivery will attempt to address the fact that the major contributors to these serious health problems are obesity, sugary drinks, smoking and inactivity. 

The split of the service arm of the MOH into curative and public health and the revival of the Women’s Village Committee will in my opinion go a long way to address these problems. 

The key to effect these important changes are the workers - good people at the top and a strong, robust and well trained health workforce particularly the doctors and nurses. Good luck!

 

Johnny Cash

Samoa Observer

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