In a very short nine years, the Oceania University of Medicine (OUM) situated in the National Health Complex, Apia has made a significant contribution to medical training and health services in Samoa.

Opened in 2002 offering graduate-entry MBBS and MD degrees, the University offers lectures delivered by on-island teaching faculty as well as state-of-the-art video conferencing.

It has since attracted an impressive number of regional medical professionals to visit and offer their services; partnered with the local Rotary chapter to deliver monthly health services to outlying villages; made a significant contribution to the relief effort following the earthquake and tsunami in September this year, and begun a rigorous accreditation process with the Philippine Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).

“This is an international accrediting body that is recognised by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA), a committee of the United States Department of Education,” says OUM Vice Chancellor, Professor Surindar Cheema.

In support, the Samoan Government has announced plans for a teaching hospital to be built in 2010.

“A teaching hospital, sometimes called a university hospital, is affiliated with a medical school and it provides specialised medical care to patients as well as clinical education and training for future and current doctors, nurses and other health professionals,” says Professor Cheema.

“Through its partnership with the Oceania University of Medicine, it will attract and retain some of the best doctors in Samoa. It is not unrealistic to expect that some of the best Samoan doctors will choose to stay and some of those who have left will return to Samoa.

“It is also true that teaching hospitals attract and retain the best medical professionals because they provide clinicians an opportunity to teach, do research and have an academic career path where they can become professors within the medical school.”

Professor Cheema says the new teaching hospital in Samoa will, when fully operational, have not only the best doctors but the best medical and surgical facilities in the South Pacific.

“Oceania University of Medicine, owned by Samoa and Samoans, is prepared to play its role by ensuring that the new teaching hospital becomes a resource to serve the people of Samoa and the South Pacific by offering world-standard health in Apia.”

While the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami caused the cancellation of a planned medical conference; the publication of another OUM initiative, the Samoa Medical Journal went ahead with articles contributed from local and regional health professionals.

Faculty, students and staff alike then turned their efforts to assisting the relief effort under OUM Mobile Emergency Response Team (OMERT), which will be a permanent and recognised arm of OUM in relation to emergency medical aid.

In his ‘Samoa Tsunami Report’ presented to doctors, students and health professionals, OUM’s Dr Carmichael Patu, gives details of their response, coordinated and led by Drs Le Mamea Lemalu Limbo Fiu and Leituala Ben Matalavea.

The report is expected to provide valuable data for future emergency response situation and articles in a future edition of the publication.

OMERT consisted of four teams from the National Health System, the Ministries of Health of Samoa and NZ, the NZ Army Medical team and the Red Cross doctors and nurses. They treated villagers from Lepa, Saleapaga and Satitoa, some of whom were harder to reach as they had moved to scattered settlements and temporary shelters.

In the two weeks following the tsunami, Dr Patu says they recorded over 300 consultations initially involving cleaning, dressing and providing antibiotics for lacerations and infected wounds and pain relief for musculoskeletal injuries.

“However respiratory infections soon became apparent and a major concern was the high prevalence of Aspiration Pneumonia in victims admitted to the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital,” he says.

As well as non-tsunami related infections, psychological distress and the replacement of long-term medications lost in the tsunami were addressed by the teams.

The report also lists challenges some of the team members faced. These included the lack of psychological training and the language and cultural barriers of those who were non-Samoan speakers.

“Local doctors had had no tsunami experience, and had to rely on literature and the experience of other countries,” says Leituala Dr Ben Matalavea. However he speaks proudly of how the local people were well organised. “When the first overseas teams arrived, sick people were already in hospital and although under-resourced, everyone did a good job.”

“The psychological impacts were lessened with the presence of Dr William Spear, founder and director of a small disaster relief agency that has been active for more than 40 years throughout the world, and also the counseling skills of faifeaus and volunteer psychiatrists and psychologists,” says Dr Patu.

Dr Spear explains that his work facilitated communities to recover a sense of safety for children, relieve fear, allow grief, anger and sadness to be expressed and let the heart heal from trauma.

“When these natural emotions are not validated by a culture, they can become distorted and repressed, resulting in systemic illnesses that can begin to manifest around 120 days after an event. These create an enormous, unnecessary burden on the health care system.”

However, Dr Spears is positive about Samoa’s ability to cope and recover.

“It is the resilience of Samoan families, their faith and community support, which will rebuild this country -- not timber and nails. I firmly believe that Samoa will heal and grow.”

Oceania University of Medicine

Established in Samoa: 2002
Situated: National Health Complex, Moto’otua
Vice Chancellor: Professor Surindar Cheema
Chancellor: Lolofietele Dr Eti Enosa
Faculty: World-class
Student Body: International
Scholarships: Available
Degrees offered: MBBS and MD
Academic curriculum: Largely based on US and Australian models
Learning modes: Online distance learning and clinical teaching
Class sizes: Small
Listings: WHO’s World Directory of Medical Schools
Website: www.oceaniamed.org

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