Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Several faipule are opposed to the move by Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga to transfer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from under the LBJ Medical Center to the new American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency (ASSRA).

Vice Speaker of the House, Fetu Fetui Jr, during a House Health committee last week called the decision by Lemanu “an unprofessional move” while other faipule called it “stupid”.

Fetu said there is no need to remove the EMS away from LBJ because these two entities need to work together. EMS’ role is to transport patients to the LBJ Tropical Medical Hospital for treatment.

He said he doesn’t agree with removing EMS from its Fagaalu premises. He said the EMS must continue to be housed at its old Faga’alu building, because not only is it close to the LBJ, but it’s centrally located on island.

An agreement between the CEO of LBJ and the Acting Director of the new ASSRA would see the EMS move out of their base in Fagaalu, with LBJ continuing to fund the EMS payroll through the end of FY2022.

This information was revealed at a hearing of the House Health Committee last Friday, which was initiated by Faipule Faimealelei Anthony Allen who told the House before the recess that the LBJ has told EMS to vacate their Fagaalu premises.

After the hearing, members of the House committee advised the LBJ CEO Moefaauo William Emmsley not to touch the EMS building in Fagaalu, but allow EMS to continue occupying the building.

Emmsley told the hearing that the Governor’s executive order creating the new ASSRA, directed that the building, equipment, personnel and all property used by the EMS be transferred to the new division.

He said he later met with the Governor and asked that the building not be transferred to the new agency, as he needed the space for expansion of hospital facilities.

Moefaauo related that with the Governor’s agreement, he and the Acting director of the ASSRA, Faamasino Galoia, signed an agreement for LBJ to take over the EMS building in Fagaalu and LBJ would continue paying EMS staff up to the end of the fiscal year.

He added that the EMS building has been condemned twice and the hospital plans to tear it down and construct a new building.

The hospital has reserved a room and two parking slots next to the Emergency Room for EMS use for the time being.

He also said LBJ had invested $750,000 in the Tafuna EMS station, which would serve the Western District, where most of the calls to EMS come from.

Galoia told the hearing that his main concern was for EMS employees to continue being paid during the transition and that’s why he made the agreement with LBJ.

In the interim they hope to occupy a building at the Department of Health across from the hospital.

Faipules wanted to know more about the EMS building in Fagaalu.

According to a report received by the House committee before the hearing, the EMS building in Fagaalu was built by LBJ in about 2001, using a combination of CIP (Federal) and LBJ funds. Then, by order of CEO and approved by the Board, EMS was designated to occupy the building.

After years of gross neglect, the EMS building was first condemned by the Department of Health (DOH) in September 25, 2021. Despite this order, EMS personnel resisted and continued to occupy the building.

Again, DoH issued its 2nd notice of condemnation for the EMS building for the same reasons in July 22, 2022 — but EMS personnel continue to occupy the building to date.