19 Apr 2011

US gives more towards American Samoa's dialysis unit

4:21 pm on 19 April 2011

The United States assistant secretary of the interior for insular affairs, Anthony Babauta, has approved a request for an additional three million US dollars to expand the dialysis clinic at American Samoa's LBJ hospital.

The numbers seeking dialysis treatment are up 43 percent this year.

During his Flag Day speech, Mr Babauta spoke of the serious issue that non-communicable diseases have become and called for people to change their lifestyles and eating habits.

"And in the meantime we will do what we can to respond to the current situation, which is why I will approve Governor Togiola's recent request to allocate three million CIP [Capital Improvement Projects] dollars for the expansion of the renal dialysis facility, to double the number of patient units at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center."

United States assistant secretary of the interior for insular affairs, Anthony Babauta.