The Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Health, Aiono Dr Alec Ekeroma, confirmed that the $1.1 million mobile bus donated by the people of Japan will be used to carry out the Comprehensive Cervical screening once launched in July.

He clarified that the program includes training, mobile screening using point-of-care equipment like the Gene Expert machine, and a bus for rural areas.

"I know for sure that this particular donation is going to help with the comprehensive cervical cancer screening program that we are to launch in July. Not only that, we are refurbishing a central clinic. A central clinic will be just downstairs where we used to have the immunisation for children," he told the Samoa Observer.

"We are refurbishing the whole thing, funded by Kirby Institute with a donation from Swire Shipping, which was what I was busy with trying to secure during CHOGM. I believe you might have seen me chasing the Prime Minister around to get some papers signed, and now we have the funding.

"It's more than $2 million, so part of that will be going to start the screening program down there (the first floor of the WHO building) from July. Then the bus is going out into the rural areas. The reason why the bus is important is that we need to take with us a point of care equipment or testing equipment. So now we have what we call a gene expert machine."

Aiono also confirmed that they will be explaining to women in villages why testing is very important. They will also be explaining to them how tests are conducted. There are other screening programs that will be conducted by the Ministry throughout the year.

The HPV vaccine, which prevents infection with high-risk strains of the virus linked to cervical cancer, is already widely administered in Samoa. According to health data, 85 per cent of Year Eight girls received the vaccine in 2023, and the government aims to increase this number further. The new screening initiative aims to reach 80 per cent of eligible women by 2029 through a combination of HPV testing and routine gynaecological exams.

Women undergoing screening will receive additional preventative health checks, including breast exams, blood pressure, and glucose monitoring. Beyond prevention, Samoa’s Cancer Control Plan emphasises strengthening diagnostic services and treatment options, including the eventual creation of a national Cancer Centre. Investments in radiology, pathology, and overseas clinical partnerships will ensure that those diagnosed with cancer have better access to timely and effective treatment.