Eight-year-old Faith Melchoir has become the second child to die from dengue this year. Her parents watched on helplessly on Monday night as doctors fought a losing battle to save the girl.

Her death has prompted a plea from the family. Faith's father, Kaisalika Melchoir, has called on leaders to stop the political bickering and focus on a killer disease that is claiming the lives of children.

"I am not blaming anyone, but it is my request to the leaders of Samoa to please stop fighting and look into ways to cure this disease," Mr Melchior said.

He said Faith would "forever be my Miss Samoa." Faith was admitted to the hospital for five days. 

"We were told that there is no cure for dengue fever, which is something the government leaders should prioritise now," the grieving father said.

"If there is no cure for dengue, then that means Samoa should push forward with ways to find a cure because this disease is no joke.

"It took one of my children, and it really hurts, it's painful to lose a child this suddenly."

Mr Melchior said his daughter was a strong and active girl, and it was last week that she started having a fever. They took her to a traditional healer, thinking that it was a broken bone (gau).

One of the symptoms of dengue is sore joints and muscle aches.

She was admitted to the hospital after there were no changes in her condition. The family was told that the dengue got worse because she was massaged.

"We were shocked by how suddenly my princess Faith's illness grew, but I cannot blame anyone; the doctors were doing the best they could," Mr Melchoir said.

"I miss my princess, and her last words to us were that she is going (o le a 'ou alu)."

The mourning father said it was painful to lose a child. He wants parents and guardians to be on alert and take their children to see the doctors immediately if they have a high fever.

He said it's an experience no parent would want to go through, and it was a community effort to work together to find ways to eliminate it.

"Faith always wanted to become Miss Samoa when she got older, sadly, she is now our angel. We miss her so much," he said.

Faith was in Year Four at Vaiusu Primary school, the sixth of nine siblings and was described by her father as a smart girl who was into studying.

"She was different from her other siblings; she was so into her studies and was a very hygienic girl. Memories of my precious daughter will forever be cherished." 

Dengue fever is an illness spread by the bite of mosquitoes infected with one of the dengue viruses. Symptoms are usually flu-like but can worsen to severe dengue (dengue hemorrhagic fever), a life-threatening condition. Getting infected a second time increases the risk of serious symptoms.