Former Director of Health to Give Evidence in Measles Inquest

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 14 APRIL 2023: The former Director of Health, Leausa Dr.Take Naseri will give evidence when the inquest for seven victims of the 2019 measles epidemic is recalled next month before the Coroner, District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosela Papalii.

The inquest was scheduled to be heard yesterday but the matter has been pushed further down the court list due to the unavailability of the former Health Director.

Of the ten inquest results expected yesterday, 7 are alleged victims of the 2019 measles epidemic and the rest are deaths from different incidents.

The measles outbreak remains a dark time for Samoa as due to very low vaccination coverage in 2019, 83 people died as a result with most of them babies and children.

A grandmother of Vaitele who lost two grandsons to the epidemic hopes the inquest will put closure to a painful and sad chapter in their family.