New Zealand's Deputy P.M. Samoa bound

New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister, Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters, is landing in Samoa on Friday to join the nation in the fight against the measles epidemic.

He will stand alongside Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi and give a joint press conference in the afternoon on the crisis.

“New Zealand has been working closely with the Government of Samoa and offering our assistance from the early stages of the outbreak. New Zealand has deep sympathy for the situation in Samoa and we are committed to supporting their response to this crisis,” Vaovasamanaia said.

New Zealand's Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio, is also travelling with Vaovasamanaia. 

They will visit the New Zealand Medical Assistance Teams in Leulumoega Hospital and Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospitals, as well as the United Nations Children’s Fund Headquarters.

It is a two day trip – the delegation will return to New Zealand on Saturday.

New Zealand has sent two teams of medical professionals to Samoa since 20 November and has funded 100,000 measles and rubella (MR) vaccines provided by UNICEF, and 15,000 measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines from New Zealand. 

The nation has also sent an oxygen production machine, vaccination fridges, face masks, gowns, hand sanitiser and stretcher beds.