The youngest dialysis patient on record is a 16 year old boy and the average age of renal patients is now 30 years.<\/p>\n
Central to the call is for early preventative intervention measures for healthy living and lifestyles for the younger generations of Samoa.<\/p>\n
The concerns were voiced during the discussion of the National Kidney Foundation Annual Report 2019\/2020 and the serious situation of kidney failure and the need for 30 more dialysis machines to cater for the growing patient numbers.<\/p>\n
MP for Anoama\u2019a No.1 Alaiasa Sepulona Moefaauo said if SPAGHL can address the problem, then revive it.<\/p>\n
The Minister for Education, Seuula Ioane raised the concern about unhealthy food sold at the school cafeterias and consumed by children.<\/p>\n
He referred to a special committee in the past which conducted schools visits to encourage healthy eating and a hygiene lifestyle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI call on the Minister for Health and everyone to work together for healthy eating and healthy lifestyles especially for our young generations,\u201d said Seuula.<\/p>\n
The SPAGHL Initiative The program was later cancelled by the previous Government.<\/p>\n In 2008, Parliament formed a partnership with the Ministry of Education, Health and other stakeholders to advocate for a healthy eating platform in schools.<\/p>\n Parliamentarians see targeting the health of the young Samoan population as the priority.<\/p><\/div>\n They set up policies and guidelines for every school to follow such as healthy food allowed in the schools, creating school vegetable and fruit garden projects where children can be part of.<\/p>\n SPAGHL\u2019s visits also discovered the very poor and unhygienic conditions of bathrooms in some schools and safety issues that contributed to the problem.<\/p>\n \u201cThe exposure of children to these poor conditions is the beginning of poor health and a contributing factor to the Non-Communicable Diseases,\u201d said Laauli.<\/p>\n These visits resulted in the closure of several schools due to poor and unhygienic and unsafe facilities. The closures resulted in a friction that ultimately led to closing down the SPAGHL initiative by pulling its budget.<\/p>\n But the closure of various schools and identifying the safety and hygiene issues at the time, resulted in the Government of the Peoples Republic of China funding five new schools at $5m tala per school.<\/p>\n He pointed out that such a program can assist the health Ministry in their drive for a Healthy Living and Healthy Lifestyles of young Samoans to address the serious problem of non-communicable diseases.<\/p>\n \u201cImagine if that initiative was not stopped ten years ago?\u201d Laauli asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to focus on the health of our young population now to address the serious health issue we\u2019re now facing. Getting more dialysis machines is not the answer,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Minister for Agriculture & Fisheries, Laauliealemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao informed Seuula that the program he referred to was the SPAGHL which he as Speaker then initiated and implemented in 2008.<\/p>\n![\"Students](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/talamua.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Students-of-Faga-Primary-School.jpg?resize=740%2C493&ssl=1\")