The Government of Japan has approved a grant of close to US$16 million to support the National University of Samoa (NUS) Faculty of Health Science. The grant, finalised through an exchange of notes between Prime Minister Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and Japan’s Foreign Minister H.E. Ms. Kamikawa Yoko, will finance the construction of a new three-story building for the NUS Faculty of Health Science. The funding will also cover the provision of practical training equipment and related materials to support medical programs.
Acknowledging Japan’s generosity, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa expressed gratitude on behalf of the Samoan government and people. She emphasised the significance of this assistance in addressing Samoa’s healthcare challenges, particularly in light of recent epidemics such as measles and COVID-19. The new infrastructure will include a Learning Resource Centre, Library, and other essential facilities to cater to the growth of NUS’s medical school and its expanded programs in allied health and related fields.
The Faculty of Health Science at NUS, which currently accounts for 14% of the university’s overall enrollment of about 3,600 per year, plays a crucial role in training healthcare professionals for Samoa and the wider Pacific region. With the grant, NUS aims to increase its training capacity to address acute workforce shortages in the healthcare sector.
