Concerns have been voiced again regarding the deteriorating conditions at the national hospital in Moto'otua, with patients, caregivers, and members of the public urgently calling for immediate action from the Ministry of Health. 

Social media has become a platform for people to express their growing dissatisfaction with the state of the hospital, with many sharing their personal experiences and stories about the unsatisfactory conditions.

One caregiver, whose mother was admitted to the hospital last week, started a conversation online about the poor conditions, which sparked a wider discussion as more individuals came forward to share similar experiences. 

Among the most troubling reports was from a caregiver who claimed that the air conditioning in the Acute 7 ward was not functioning, forcing patients to bring in their electric fans. 

Another caregiver raised alarm over the increasing presence of black mould growing on the ceilings, walls, windows, and floors throughout the hospital.

These concerns were echoed by numerous others, with many commenting on the worsening state of the hospital's facilities. 

This newspaper conducted a visit to the national hospital to assess the situation firsthand and confirmed the troubling state of some wards. 

During the visit, it was evident that the hospital's conditions had worsened, with visible damage such as leaking ceilings, mouldy air conditioning units, and insufficient beds for patients.

The Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Moto'otua which opened in 2013 was funded through a $128 million loan from China’s Exim Bank as part of a major development project. 

However, nearly a decade later, its infrastructure seems to be falling into disrepair, raising serious concerns about its ability to adequately serve the public.

The Ministry of Health has been contacted for comment, but it is understood that the Director General of Health, Aiono Professor Alec Ekeroma, is currently on leave, with Deputy Director General Tagaloa Dr Robert Thomsen acting as the interim DG.