The Ministry of Health (M.O.H.) is investigating concerns by parents, schools and the general public on 'extra doses' of the lymphatic filariasis drugs being administered last week.

Acting Director General of Health, Atoa Dr. Glenn Fatupaito confirmed on Saturday that they are currently collecting information and will later put together reports from the outreach teams particularly in areas where the concerns are coming from.

"We are looking into it and once a report has been finalised after we collect all the information from the staff and the teams then we will give out an official response on this matter," he told this newspaper.

Awareness of the administering of the drugs to contain lymphatic filariasis and the training of health workers and village representatives began last month. 

However, last week, a parent approached this newspaper after her daughter was allegedly forced to take a second dose of the lymphatic filariasis pills in school without parental consent, just days after she had taken it at a community outreach organised by the M.O.H.

The administration of the lymphatic filariasis drug in schools and in communities has been successful in a span of just one week. However, the rushing of the campaign which is scheduled to conclude on Sunday has put pressure on the staff to get their numbers up.

This has led to some not following the proper channel when administering the drugs to children at school including the acceptance of signed consent forms.

Samoa Observer visited the school and interviewed the school principal, Taala Tepora Fuimaono who confirmed the incident and said she was also at fault for having allowed the staff to carry out the administration when the rest of the parents were not informed.

It is believed that there was more than one student who took the dosage twice because they had already taken their drugs earlier in the week without parental consent. 

One of the parents, Sisi Tavui Fia said her five-year-old daughter is one of the victims and stressed that it was not only one or two students who overdosed but more.

"I was here yesterday and I am one of the parents who was really angry yesterday. When we got here to pick up our kids, they had already taken their drugs without our consent," she told this newspaper on Friday.

Samoa Observer understands that not only these students were victimised by this incident, but also older people as some in Savaii.

Meanwhile, those students who took the extra dose have been absent from school complaining about headaches and dizziness as well as vomiting.