It’s rare for medical practitioners to mix with beauty pageants.

So it comes as a surprise for the Plaza Health Clinic to step forward and assist the new Miss Samoa, Alexandra Iakopo, by offering $10,000 worth of free medical care and advice during her reign.

“I have always been an advocate for young women and I have realized that in order to get our health message out we need to empower our own young women,” says Dr. Tanya Petaia, the brainchild of the clinic.

“And by advocating health issues pertaining to women through Miss Samoa is an effective way of advocating the need to promote the health for the women of today.”

“It is also part of our community service and obligation as medical doctors,” she added

“I know we women face a lot of heath issues social problems and for Miss Samoa we could use her as a vessel to push through the issues that are affecting young women of today, mainly unwanted pregnancies, and the rise in sexually transmitted disease.”

 “We as a nation are pushing the non-communicable diseases and other diseases pushed on the side because the majority of the heath budget goes towards the N.C.D’s so maybe if we use another way.”

“Our newly crowned Miss Samoa is the perfect way for young women to turn their heads and say hey if Miss Samoa can do it, so can we.”

“Our target is raising awareness and informing women to prioritize their health.”

“There are preventive measures available for diseases such as cancer, sexually transmitted diseases but our young need to be courageous and come forward.”

“One of our obligations as medical practitioners is to promote health awareness and that is what the Plaza Health Clinic is advocating through Alexandra.”

The Plaza Health Clinic is more of a family oriented investment with father Papali’i Dr. Samuelu Petaia as the Director of Services while Dr. Petaia is in charge of Clinical Services.

ABOUT DR. PETAIA

She is a graduate from the Fiji School of Medicine and completed her Post Graduates in Pediatrics in 2003.

She has worked in Fiji, Niue and the Cook Island as well as the National Hospital.

And for five years was the brain behind the Digicel Samoa Health Outreach Programme taking medical services to the rural villages in both Upolu and Savai’i.

As a member of the Special Olympic Committee, Dr. Petaia is also a sitting member for the Asia Pacific region in the Special Olympics International Committee based in Washington D.C.

She is married to Lee Godinet and they have two children.