Samoa is currently working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. To achieve the targets for the reduction of child mortality, which forms MDG 4, Samoa should reduce under-five deaths per 1,000 live births to ten, and increase measles immunisation to 100 per cent by 2015. In 2012, under-five mortality stood at 18 deaths per 1,000 live births, and measles immunisation at 85 per cent.
While the level of immunisation has not yet reached 100 per cent, the country had no recorded cases of measles in 2008. While the current progress in the country is promising, continued efforts will need to be made to improve both under-five mortality and measles reduction if Samoa is to achieve MDG 4 by 2015.
The global MDG 5 target for maternal health is to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth by threequarters between 1990 and 2015, making Samoa’s target a maternal mortality ratio of 65 per 100,000 live births. In the period 2007-11 Samoa had a reported maternal mortality ratio of 29 deaths per 100,000 live births (estimated at 100 deaths per 100,000 live births by UN agencies/World Bank in 2010). Given the data reported by the country, the maternal mortality target has been achieved. Part of the goal also stipulates that 100 per cent of births must be attended by a skilled health professional. In the period 2007-12 this figure stood at 81 per cent, so further progress must be made if the 100 per cent target is to be achieved.
MDG 6 aims for a reduction in the prevalence of HIV, malaria and other diseases. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is low. There has been a gradual reduction in estimated incidence of, and estimated mortality (when mortality data excludes cases co-morbid with HIV) from, TB since 1990. Accordingly, progress has clearly been made and Samoa is on track to achieve MDG 6.
At the time of writing, Samoa was one of the few less developed nations close to achieving its health MDGs. The MDG Monitor, created and maintained by the United Nations Development Programme and its partners, currently shows Samoa as having virtually achieved MDGs 4 and 5 and being on track to achieve MDG 6 by 2015.
The National Report for Samoa, prepared for the 2014 Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, highlights health challenges and priorities facing Samoa in the post-2015 climate. While Samoa has made good progress towards the MDG goals, there is increasing concern surrounding high levels of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related health issues in the country, and the costs involved with addressing these problems.
The priorities laid out for Samoa post 2015 are to improve the quality of health education, and strengthen health promotion techniques. The report further highlights potential measures that could be used to address the increasing issue of NCDs as part of the post-2015 health framework in Samoa, with measures including the implementation of targeted programmes to address NCDs.
