Nurses express gratitude for public support

Solialofi Papali'i,  the Samoa Nursing Association President has expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the generosity of the public who have provided them with food and other support as they work long shifts during the measles outbreak.

The public have, of their own initiative, provided food and drinks for the hospital staff, something she saw taking place on Monday.

Papali'i shed tears expressing her gratitude for the support shown the hospital's front-line staff by the public during a testing time when lunch breaks are non-existent. 

"I was so happy and thankful to see yesterday that some families have provided food for the staff, this is the true spirit of Samoans, it's to help." she said.

Papali'i was not only thankful for the public but the Police Officers who have been deployed to help the flow of the public coming into the hospital, which has been "a great help to the nurses."

This is aligned to the state of emergency orders included that the Ministry of Police are ordered to keep the peace, support staff and families of the hospitals, and attend to assisting the National Hospitals to assist with monitoring the visitors.  

She also acknowledged the assistance of various businesses, organizations including Samoa Red Cross Society and families who have come through to offer assistance.

Papali'i also acknowledged those who have made harsh remarks regarding the nurses and doctors saying she prays the medical staff take it on humbly and positively. 

"Whatever is thrown at us by the public I advise to accept it humbly because at the end of the day we will continue to do our jobs,” she said. 

"But I pray that it is developed by the staff in a positive way for the improvement of their work.

"And hope constantly that those people will someday learn how hard this profession is where we are dealing with lives."

Various members of the public have been turning to social media urging others to donate basic commodities needed for the overflowing wards including nappies, blankets, soaps and refreshments for the staff.

Samoa currently faces an inevitable further spread of the highly contagious virus, with more than 1000 suspected cases reported late on Tuesday night. 

To date, 16 people have died of measles or measles-related complications. Just one of those deaths was an adult, a 37-year-old.

The rest are all children, largely under two years of age.