The high number of kidney complications reported by the Samoa Dialysis Center is attributed by Dr. Ben Matalavea to untreated diabetes and high blood pressure.
He stated, “If they can manage to control their diet, especially by reducing salt and sugar intake, which are contributors to high blood pressure and diabetes, they can also protect their kidneys and thus avoid the need for dialysis.”
Leiataua disclosed in an interview with Samoa Newshub that the oldest affected is 80 years old, and the youngest is 14 years old.
This year, the elderly man will turn 80; he has been undergoing dialysis for eight years. As for the 14-year-old, the prevalence remains high, although efforts to control it are underway and progressing.
“It means don’t dwell on the inevitability of death when facing kidney failure, but rather on proactive proventive measures,” said Leituala.
The continued rise in the number of dialysis patients is concerning, as our country has long been advocating preventive measures for good health.
Samoa continues to heavily invest in these initiatives, unlike many other Pacific islands that are unable to do the same.
Tala na fa’aliliu mai i le tala na tusia i le Gagana Samoa
Silia i le 80% o tagata Sāmoa ua fa’amama toto
I le to’atele o i lātou ua fa’amauina e le Fale Fa’amamā Toto a Sāmoa le a’afia o fatuga’o, ua ta’ua e le susuga i le ali’i fomai ia Leituala Dr. Ben Matalavea, e mafua mai ona o le suka ma le toto maualuga olo’o maua ai.
Na ia saunoa, “Afai ae mafai e i latou nei ona fuafua tatau le tausami e tusa o puipuiga mo fa’amai le pipisi o le toto maualuga ma le suka ua a’afia ai, o le a mafai fo’i ona puipuia o latou fatuga’o, ma taofia ai mai le fa’amamaina o le toto.”
Na fa’ailoa e Leiataua i le fa’atalanoaga ma le Samoa Newshub, o le tausaga pito i matua o e ua a’afia e 80, ae o le tausaga pito i laititi o le 14 tausaga.
“O le tausaga nei na ātoa ai le 80 o le tāma ua valu tausaga o fa’amama lona toto, ae o le alo 14 tausaga, ua tele tausaga o a’afia, ae o le tausisia o puipuiga, lea olo’o malolosi ai pea.
“O lona uiga, aua le mafaufau i le oti pe a a’afia fatuga’o, ae mafaufau i puipuiga talafeagai,” Leituala.
O le fa’aauauau ai pea ona si’itia o le numera o e olo’o fa’aaogaina masini fa’amama toto, e le’o se va’aiga lelei mo se atunu’u ua fia tausaga olo’o faia fa’alauiloa i puipuiga fa’asoifua māloloina.
Olo’o fa’atupeina lava e Sāmoa lana lea auaunaga, ma e le to’atele atunu’u o le Pasifika olo’o fa’atinoina.
