Apia, SAMOA — A 30-man detachment of the United States Army Reserve (USAR) medical team assisted with Samoa’s national government Hospital Tupua Tamasese Meaole for the two-week period of the SIDS Conference. The soldiers are from the 1984th US Army Hospital in Honolulu.

US Embassy Apia Chargé d’Affaires Peter Ganser also paid a visit to Motootua hospital on Wednesday to see the US Army Reserve (USAR) medical team in action. The USAR team brought with them a cadre of specialized physicians, nurses, combat medics and other subject-matter experts. They also donated 40 personal protective equipment suits to NHS, which are used for handling patients suspected of carrying a virus or infectious disease.

The team has been on the ground since August 25 and has provided first responder training to more than 140 Samoa Red Cross volunteers.

Since last Friday they have partnered with Samoa’s National Health Service to care for patients and build local capacity in five locations around the island: the UN SIDS venue, Motootua hospital, and the district clinics of Lufilufi, Poutasi, and Faleolo. US Peace Corps volunteers who have been invaluable to the team as cultural liaisons and translators have also joined USAR at the district sites.