24 Aug 2005

American Samoa fono urged to prop ailing hospital

10:27 am on 24 August 2005

The American Samoa Senate President Lolo Moliga has called on the House of Representatives to promptly act on a Senate measure allocating $2 million to the financially troubled LBJ Medical Centre.

Lolo says people are dying because of the hospital's financial state.

The measure was approved by the Senate a month ago but is still to be passed by the House.

In a letter to the House Speaker Matagi Ray McMoore, Lolo said the money will help find a permanent solution to the recurring financial problems at the hospital.

He says of great concern is that people are dying because the off-island medical referral programme is on hold.