Ads by Google Ads by Google

Community Briefs

ECE HEALTH ASSESSMENTS BEGIN TODAY

 

Beginning today, health assessments will be conducted for all students enrolled in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program. Instead of having the parents take their children to one of the local Health Centers, this year, the medical professionals will be visiting the local ECE centers and classrooms.

 

This week’s schedule is as follows: Today, assessments will be conducted at Alataua, followed by Aua tomorrow, and Matafao on Wednesday. On Thursday, the assessments will be carried out in Laulii and then Faga’itua on Friday.

 

Leone youngsters will be assessed on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 29-30.

 

Schedules for October will be made available later this week.

 

The health assessments will include physicals, and check-ups for dental health. A mental health professional will also be present during the visits.

 

CHILD CARSEAT FITTING STATION A HUGE SUCCESS

 

Close to 50 local residents — mostly from the Filipino and Fijian community — took advantage of the Child Passenger Safety (CPS) fitting station that was held this past Saturday at the OMV compound in Tafuna.

 

Sept. 14-20 is National Child Passenger Safety Week and the DPS Office of Highway Safety’s Occupant Protection Program hosted a fitting station where parents can stop by to get educated on how to properly install a car seat and afterwards, take home a free car seat for their child.

 

The event was initially scheduled for 9 a.m.- 12 noon, but according to OHS Occupant Safety Program Manager David Bird, people started showing up before 8 a.m., “all anxious to get the free car seats.”

 

The fitting station was conducted by instructor Emelio Fruean and local technicians: Diana Canepa, Alamanda Amituana’i, Ma’elega Fetui Tagaloa, Mike Tipoti, and David Bird, representing the Office of Highway Safety, the Dept. of Human and Social Services (DHSS) Child Care Program, and the Fire Department.

 

In order to score a free car seat, those who stopped by were given a crash course on how to properly install a car seat and they were given the opportunity to do it themselves.

 

“Some of them needed 2-3 tries to get it right,” Bird told the Samoa News. “But they got it, so their reward was a free car seat.”

 

More information on the OHS Occupant Safety Program can be obtained by contacting David Bird directly at 633-7634.

 

AIDS AWARENESS WORKSHOP AIMS TO PROMOTE STAFF DEVELOPMENT

 

A three-day training session hosted by four consultants from the Life Foundation from Hawai’i to discuss HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) was held last week and was attended by representatives from the Dept. of Health, the Dept. of Education, the LBJ Medical Center, and community members.

 

Secretary of the HIV/AIDS core group and member of the planning board Mrs. Netini Sene told the Samoa News that the workshop was for staff development, so those involved in these programs will have enhanced knowledge and be made aware of the latest research about these communicable diseases.

 

In addition, the discussions focused on ways to raise awareness in the community and to find ways to encourage people to come in to get tested.

 

Organizers of the program were expecting only 4-5 people to be in attendance but altogether, a total of 33 people showed up.

 

For the remainder of this year, Sene said, they will be working collaboratively with the DOE’s elementary and secondary schools as far as outreach programs, and at the same time, “look at aligning the objectives of the three-day training with the DOE’s health program curriculum.”

 

She said the HIV/AIDS program involves partnerships with the DOE and DOH and the goal is to educate both teachers and students, so the DOE curriculum being taught at the schools, as far as health education, are in alignment.

 

Sene said yesterday that the members of their core group will have to undergo the same type of training, so they can be updated with information that they can, in turn, share with the community, especially with diseases like HIV/AIDS and STDs.

 

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES OFFERING COUNSELING FOR THE COMMUNITY

 

Those in situations involving domestic violence, anger management, or couples who feel they need therapy to enhance their marriage are invited to seek counseling available at the Catholic Social Services - a non profit organization — in Fatuoaiga.

 

Rev. Fr. Vaiula Iulio of Pago Pago Parish, who is one of the counselors, told Samoa News that their office is open everyday from 9 a.m.- 4p.m. Monday through Friday and walk-ins are welcomed, although he said most of their cases are referrals from the judiciary.

 

In a time when there is an increase in the number of divorce cases, domestic violence, and anger-related disputes, the Catholic Church is offering services that can help people by letting them share their problems and trying to find ways and alternatives to address them.

 

“The counseling services are open to anybody who just needs someone to talk to,” Fr. Vaiula said. Appointments can be made by calling 699-1402 or stopping by the Catholic Social Services office in Fatuoaiga.

 

In addition to Fr. Vaiula, two other counselors are available, including another priest: Rev. Fr. Tagaloa Tatino.

 

MANU’A ISLANDS WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL FUTURE TRAINING FOR DPS

 

Fuega Moliga, Special Assistant to the Police Commissioner, says that from now on, representatives from the Manu’a Islands will be included in all future trainings for the Dept. of Public Safety.

 

Fuega’s statement was made following the completion of the two-week training course for members of the DPS Marine Patrol Unit. The training was conducted by officials from the US Coast Guard and a total of 15 certifications were awarded last Friday.

 

Last week’s training was special, in that it was the first time representatives from the Manu’a Islands were able to attend. The two-week session involved classroom lectures and hands-on training that touched on everything from marine safety and seamanship to search and rescue.

 

With the new catamaran — the Segaula — already providing sea transportation between the Manu’a Islands, Fuega said it is definitely a plus that Manu’a representatives were able to attend and successfully complete the training.