SEWER LINE RUPTURE CLOSES DENTAL CLINIC

Dozens of local residents who either had appointments or visited the LBJ Medical Center yesterday seeking dental services were turned away after a ruptured sewer line resulted in the Dental Clinic shutting down.

One irate woman who was standing in the cashier line to pay for her appointment was furious when she was told that the Dental Clinic was closed. “You guys should have signs posted all over the hospital, informing the public about this,” she said. “I just spent 30 minutes standing in line and it was a complete waste of time!”

Samoa News was told that the issue will be resolved in time for the Dental Clinic to re-open today. All those who had appointments yesterday are encouraged to stop by today to receive services.

More information can be obtained by contacting the LBJ Medical Center at 633-1222.

FREE MEDICAL CLINIC STARTS TOMORROW

The first day of the two-day free medical clinic being hosted by the Samoa USA Medical Mission in collaboration with the Men of Promise Ministry will be held tomorrow at the Mulitauaopele residence in Laulii from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The second and final day for the free clinics will be hosted on Thursday, July 9 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Antioch Assemble of God Church in Ili'ili.

Everyone is welcomed and all services are free of charge.

Following the clinics, a Men's Ministry Rally will kick off at 4:30 p.m.

A group of doctors and medical professionals — all of whom are volunteers — have arrived in the territory and people of all ages, religious denominations, and ethnic backgrounds are invited to take advantage of the free services which include medical screening, diagnostics, eye care, and prescription medications.

LOCAL YOUTH START SUMMER JOBS TODAY

Yesterday morning, hundreds of 14-16 year olds who signed up to take part in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), administered by the Dept. of Human Resources, crowded the Pago Pago Youth Community Center for the first day of a week-long training session.

Participants who are 17-21 years old will be released to their respective work sites today.

According to the DHR’s Employment and Training Division, the SYEP serves “to provide academic, occupational skills and work experience for low income individuals with barriers to employment”.

Eligibility requires the applicant to be between 14 and 21 years old, unemployed, and economically disadvantaged.

This year, more money was added to the grant funding that pays for the program so more youth — about 700 total — were hired.

Last year, 602 youth, in both Tutuila and Manu’a, participated in the 2014 Summer Youth Employment Program which lasted for eight weeks and saw the involvement of 43 government agencies and 86 businesses from the private sector.

The SYEP is funded by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) formula grant and last year, the Fono approved an additional $200,000 for it. In addition, there is money allotted in each government agency’s operation budget for the program.

DOI ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR LBJ & LOCAL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

Washington, D.C. – Monday, July 6, 3015 — In a press release, Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia’aina today announced $98,082 in grant assistance under the Office of Insular Affairs’ Technical Assistance Program to engage youth and provide hemodialysis training in American Samoa.

“We received many more applications than we were able to fund this year, but I am pleased by the quality and innovation of the funding proposals we have received from the insular areas,” said Kia’aina of grant assistance which included projects for the Republic of Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, for a total of $360,115 in funding.

Congresswoman Aumua Amata said of the territory’s DOI grant assistance, in a press release that “these funds will serve to bolster youth programs and assist in the training of key medical personnel, which will help alleviate the dire shortage of qualified medical technicians we have on the islands.”

The following grants have been funded through the Office of Insular Affairs’ Technical Assistance Program:

Boys and Girls Club (American Samoa) — $50,000 to support the American Samoa Youth Climate Change Initiative to create public awareness on the impact of climate change and promote education and advocacy amongst American Samoa’s youth. The goal is to educate youth about climate change issues using methods that increase their knowledge and skills in the subject matter, and to develop an educational marketing tool through popular social networking strategies. The group would like to serve as an online resource center on climate change issues for students in American Samoa and the Pacific region.

LBJ Tropical Medical Center Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technicians Training (American Samoa) — $48,082 to support training for technicians at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center. Staff members within the End Stage Renal Disease Unit (ESRD) will become certified clinical hemodialysis technicians. The ESRD unit is expanding from 21 to 37 beds, which requires a higher number of staff to be certified technicians, in order to ensure quality care for the patients while receiving dialysis.