There's been a dramatic surge in the numbers seeking dialysis treatment in American Samoa and the territory's hospital is to expand its facilities.
According to the LBJ Hospital's figures for the first quarter of the current fiscal year, dialysis visits totaled 4,056 , up from 2,829 for the same period last year.
That's a 43 point 4 percent increase.
The hospital says that although the dialysis unit operates from 2am to 11pm daily, it is unable to accommodate all of the patients needing treatment.
