Rapidly Rising Dialysis Patients a Major Health Concern

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 31 March 2025 – Twenty years after it was established, the number of dialysis patients treated at the Samoa National Kidney Foundation (SNKF) Unit at Motootua has rapidly grown from 6 in 2005 to 205 in 2025.

The rapidly rising condition driven by lifestyles and eating habits, is a major health concern as more acute patients are waiting to go through dialysis treatment and currently undergoing sessions with staff.

In celebrating SNKF’s 20th anniversary last Friday, Chief Executive Officer Mulipola Roger Hazelman said the government took a bold decision in 2004/5 to establish the Unit as the 6 patients then, were treated in Auckland and could not come home as the service was not available in Samoa then.

The Chief Executive of the Samoa National Kidney Foundation, Mulipola Roger Hazelman speaking at the 20th anniversary celebration last Friday.

For the 6 dialysis patients, the cost was $5 million a year.

It was then that the Government decided to build a dialysis unit. A fact finding mission led by the late Minister of Health, Mulitalo Siafausa Vui went to Singapore who assisted in establishing the first SNKF Unit at the old Nurse’s Hall at Motootua Hospital.

At the same time, a young nurse, Amelia, was sent for training on how to operate a dialysis system in Singapore for 9 months. After her training, she returned to Samoa via New Zealand to accompany all the 6 Samoan patients back home.

The youngest patient then was a 16 year old boy; and the growing concern about the health of the country’s productive age group as the victims have been affected and needed dialysis at a younger age.

In March 2024, the SNKF Report in Parliament raised concern about the rapid increase of dialysis patients which prompted an urgent call for urgent measures in finding a solution.

That report recorded the youngest patient at the age of 7 who died a week before the report was tabled, with a total of 210 patients getting dialysis treatment three times a week from July 2023 to February 2024. A second unit in Savaii was treating 23 patients and 187 in Upolu, excluding patients undergoing preventive sessions with SNKF staff.

SNKF acknowledging those who helped out over the years.

Financial Constraints
SNKF received a budget of a little over $10m in the last financial year and Mulipola said the unit continues to struggle and he commended those who continue to support SNKF.

Mulipola acknowledged the annual financial contributions by the women guilds of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (CCCS) and the Methodists Church to SNKF.

Mulipola also said that there are no specialists allocated to SNKF but the perseverance and commitment of the staff and several doctors have contributed to the sustainability and continuation of their service.

He acknowledged Frederic Doss who initiated and co-ordinated the Dialysis Technician Course in 2017 which continues to cater for training the staff, Dr. Gidlow who created a system that makes work more easier for the staff and all medical  practitioners who assisted and contributed to the development of SNKF.

“Special acknowledgement to Letuala Dr. Ben Matalavea who is instrumental not only in acting as a social worker but does everything to ensure the service is retained,” said Mulipola.

Mulipola akso acknowledged the 5 original staff of SNKF who continue to serve the unit for 20 years

Way forward
The SNKF Board has taken a step further by upgrading its policy statement and commitment to sustaining SNKF and these includes:
* reaffirming its commitment to preventing and enhancing high quality health,
* educating people on having a positive behaviour and adopting a healthy lifestyle,
* capacity building,
* accessibility to treatment and effective care and support,
* awareness program targeting the population at risk and
* aim at reducing the number of patients.