Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Boards of Directors and Management Teams of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center and the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA) have come under sharp criticism from former Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga for failing to provide quality service to patients at the LBJ Dialysis Clinic.

In a letter dated March 12, 2025, addressed to Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula and Lt. Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. Pulu, the former governor, himself a dialysis patient, voiced his profound disappointment and frustration over the discontinuation of television services in the Dialysis Unit.

He noted that these services had provided an uplifting environment and served as a vital distraction, helping patients pass the time during their extensive four to five-hour treatments.

The letter was copied to Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean, House of Representatives Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, LBJ CEO Dr. Scott Anesi, and ASTCA CEO Chuck Leota.

Former Governor Lolo began by stating that he was among "the cohort of people who depend on Dialysis Services to obtain relief and sustain life."

After recognizing and commending the dedicated and tireless efforts of the nurses and other health professionals who work at the Dialysis Clinic, he revealed that as a patient, he spends four to five hours, three days a week being dialyzed.

"The experience can be demoralizing, depressing, and disheartening," he shared. "To help allay these suppressing conditions, the Dialysis Unit was renovated to make the facility environmentally uplifting. Television units were installed to occupy the patients' time as he/she undergoes four to five hours of dialysis."

However according to Lolo, since the start of this year, the television services in the Dialysis Unit have been discontinued because bills have not been paid.

"The mental health, let alone the physical ailment, of the dialysis patients have been sacrificed because of the failure of the LBJ Board of Directors and the LBJ Management Team to effectively manage LBJ's operation," Lolo asserted.

The disgruntled former governor did not mince words as he accused the LBJ management of failing to fulfill their mandated responsibilities. He pointed out that despite this neglect, the chairman and Board members consistently receive their monthly allowances — payments he alleged to be in direct violation of the law.

"There is absolute certainty that the LBJ Management Team is never delinquent in paying the Board of Directors their $1,000 per meeting stipend in violation of the law which establishes the Board of Directors' monthly stipend of $500 for the chairperson and $450 for Board members; not per meeting stipend as is the current practice."

Lolo also directed his ire at the ASTCA Board of Directors and Management Team, accusing them of having "lost their sense of humanity" by discontinuing television services in the Dialysis Unit.

He criticized their priorities, highlighting that "huge promotional extravagances were held in Samoa, along with similar promotions here, where thousands of dollars were expended, yet the health and welfare of dialysis patients were treated as inconsequential." In addition, he claimed that huge bonuses were issued to the Board of Directors.

In conclusion, the former governor stated that while his "recommendation to extend free television and internet services to facilities serving seniors of 65 years and older, might be considered inequitable, their contributions have paved the way in building the bridge which brought us here today.

"Access to free television and internet services in public or private establishments serving our elderly population denotes a small token of appreciation for their services. I pray that television services in the Dialysis Unit will resume forthwith to help ease the boredom and the unnerving monotony as the patients undergo their dialysis treatment."

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, LBJ Board Chairman Mualeava Dr. Aifili John Tufa, LBJ CEO Magele Scott Anesi, LBJ CMO Dr. James Sunia, and DOH Director Dr. Saipale Fuimaono appeared before the Senate Hospital & Public Health Committee. During the session, senators scrutinized them on issues raised by former Governor Lolo M. Moliga, as well as other concerns regarding the hospital's services.

Senate President Tuaolo questioned the Board Chairman about the validity of the issues raised by former Governor Lolo.

Chairman Tufa responded that, according to a report from CEO Scott Anesi, there was a brief period during which television services were temporarily suspended due to a change in service providers. He explained that the transition from BlueSky to ASTCA necessitated this interruption, but assured that the service has since been restored.

CEO Anesi elaborated that 14 television sets are currently installed in the Dialysis Unit. During the installation of the new ASTCA set-top boxes, it was discovered that they were incompatible with the Smart TV sets.

He further noted that ASTCA technicians successfully modified the set-top boxes, enabling five of the TV sets to function with full cable channel access. However, work is ongoing to resolve compatibility issues with the remaining nine sets. Anesi added that if the technicians are unable to make them operational, the only alternative would be to procure new TV sets that are compatible.

The Senate president inquired whether there was any validity to former Governor Lolo's claim that television services were discontinued due to unpaid bills. CEO Anesi refuted the allegation, clarifying that the temporary suspension of the service was caused by a technical issue rather than financial concerns.

Tuaolo questioned why television sets were not provided in the various hospital wards. Reflecting on his own experience, he shared that he had been admitted twice, and he felt as though he were in prison, forced to lie in bed staring at the walls and ceiling for eight hours straight waiting for his antibiotic shots. He described the experience as mentally stressful.

The Senate president further emphasized the need for a television set in the ER, noting the long hours many patients endure while waiting to see a doctor. He criticized the lack of this essential service across the hospital, especially when sufficient funds were available to make it a reality.

Board Chairman Tufa agreed with Tuaolo, emphasizing that television sets would play a significant role in enhancing patients' mental well-being during their recovery. He stated that while some wards are already equipped with television sets, there are plans underway to install them throughout all hospital wards.

However, Senator Tuana'itau Malaki Togiola, himself a dialysis patient, contradicted this claim during the hearing. He stated that he had not seen a television set in the Dialysis Unit room where he receives treatment.

Senator Tuana'itau recounted his experience from the previous Tuesday when the power went out while he was undergoing dialysis. He described how the hospital generator struggled to maintain stability, repeatedly turning on and off. Concerned for his safety, the Tualauta senator informed the nurse to halt his treatment, prompting other patients to follow his lead.

He further stated that, based on the information he received, the generator lacks the capacity to fully power the entire hospital.

Board Chairman Mualeava clarified that the main generator had not been connected to the backup generator serving the Dialysis Clinic. However, he assured that the issue has now been resolved.

He highlighted that during a recent island-wide power outage, which lasted five hours, the hospital was unaffected as the backup generator operated successfully. The chairman also revealed that a new generator is currently on order to further improve the hospital's power systems.