Australia's Governor-General David Hurley and his wife Linda Hurley were pleased to meet the team at the Samoa Family Health Association (SFHA) as well as tour a soon-to-be-launched diagnostic pathology lab.

According to a statement released by the Australian High Commission on Thursday evening, the Governor-General and Mrs. Hurley had the privilege of engaging with health practitioners and volunteers at SFHA to learn more about their work on Thursday. This included meeting with SFHA Executive Director Lealaiauloto Lia’i Si’itia, board member and church representative Reverend Asalele Lefauaitu, and youth champion Gutu Fa’asau.

They also toured the soon-to-be-launched Samoa Diagnostic Medical Laboratory based at SFHA which will provide essential testing services to support SFHA’s important work. This includes providing early diagnosis of sexual and reproductive health conditions such as cervical cancers.

The laboratory was made possible by a partnership between SFHA, Pacific Laboratory Specialists (PLS), the International Planned Parenthood Federation Sub-Regional Office of the Pacific (IPPF SROP) and the Australian government through the Business Partnerships Platform.  This will be the first private lab of its kind and will enable tests to be undertaken in Samoa, reducing the turnaround time from 4–6 weeks to 3–4 days.

“It is truly a pleasure for Linda and I to meet the remarkable team at SFHA and to witness first-hand the strong partnership with Australia," the Governor-General said. "I was especially honoured to meet today with representatives from the youth and church, critical voices for family health.  

"Australia is committed to working together with local organisations and key stakeholders in Samoa and across the region to support healthcare initiatives that lift communities, particularly women and girls, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

SFHA Executive Director Lealaiauloto Lia’i Si’itia said it was a real honour for him and the team to welcome the Governor-General and Mrs. Hurley to SFHA and to share with them some of the work they do in the communities with Australia’s support, including through their mobile clinics.  

"We are particularly excited about the new pathology lab which will ensure responsive and timely diagnoses and treatment of diseases.”

Australia provides support to SFHA through our ‘Tautua – Human Development All’ partnership with the Government of Samoa, as well as through funding from the Transformative Agenda for Women, Adolescents and Youth in the Pacific which is coordinated by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The Samoa Diagnostic Medical Laboratory (SDML) is dedicated to providing diagnostic services for timely screening, early diagnosis, and treatment to the population of Samoa. Once launched it will be a fully functional laboratory equipped with advanced technology and infrastructure that has been established to achieve this objective.

The laboratory includes essential equipment such as a fully automatic Liquid-Based Cytology machine, DNA Extractor/HPV analyzer, Urine analyzer, IVD diagnostic Machine, Biochemistry analyzer, Auto Hematology Analyzer, Serology kits, water distiller, Slide Storage Cabinet, Digital imaging Microscopes, Biological Safety Cabinet, server, and IT infrastructure.