PUSH FOR KNOWLEDGE : Samoan academics at recent 9th Measina Conference ( l-r) Tuiloma Vernetta Heems, Tuifuisaa Patila Amosa, Silafau Sina Vaai, Aiono Okenaisa Fauolo and Peseta Desmond Lee Hang
Staff Writer
Knowledge essential for future generations to understand and learn from were widely shared at the 9th Measina Conference hosted by the National University of Samoa towards the end of last week.
Senior educators and professionals from other selected fields of study were involved in the flow of valuable insight and understanding based on academic research.
Included in the high-level lineup of Conference presenters were Samoans and non-Samoan academics living overseas.
More than 40 presentations on research and wider understandings of issues important to Samoans were heard in the two days of intellectual review and discussions.
The theme of the conference ‘Share your expertise with our future generation’ ( Tatala lau mau, ia malamalama Samoa mo a taeao) aligns strongly with the function of learning and adding on new knowledge the university is tasked with.
Among the various studies raised at the Measina and Samoa Conference were the Samoan language and culture, English language, food, modern technology, politics, health, education, economics, climate change, land, titles, identity, Samoan philosophy, archaeology, law, street vendors, fashion, gender, tourism, agriculture, metaphors in the Bible, oral histories and others.
Health was covered also with emphasis on the challenging issues that include mental health, obesity and policies and the integration of traditional healers knowledge into the modern medical field.
Dr Tuifagatoa George Tuitama- head of the mental health unit at the Motootua Hospital in his paper titled ‘Mental Health Services and the Burden of the Disease’ shed a light on the mental health in Samoa.
He described mental health service in Samoa as the least prioritised.
Tuifafagatoa, however, argued that studies show the key to a holistic approach to overall health and overall well-being is mental health so it must be a priority.
“No matter how strong, rich or smart you are; you will never be able to function well if you have an unhealthy mind. Healthy mind leads to healthy spirit and body will follow,” he summed it up.
Toleafoa Dr Pule Viali Lameko the Vice Chancellor of OUM, speaking on the problem of obesity and on health remedy policies in place, updated the challenges faced with.
Samoans “are one of the most obese people in the world today, and the obesity rate is still rising and showing no signs of slowing down,” Toleafoa highlighted.
He acknowledged some achievements in the efforts by the Ministry of Health and partners to halt or reverse the obesity trend but it is still rising.
“The current policies and strategic plans are not effective owing to the strong and negative impact of structural factors such as globalisation, international free trade rapid urbanisation and economic development on nutrition system and access to healthier environment conducive of ease of physical exercise within Samoan communities; all factors are under the control of sectors other than health.”
Samoan oral histories and philosophy were also under the microscope.
A paper titled –‘Wisdom of the Vaifanua’ was on the use of Samoa’s oral histories to draw upon in the discussions of the Pacific as the custodian of the Blue Pacific concept was presented by Sauia Dr Louise Mataia-senior lecturer in history and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts of the National University of Samoa.
The paper “explores how the Pasifika cosmological framework embedded in the whole of life philosophy can be used to transform current development narratives and create meaningful strategies for future development that are both impactful and inclusive of Pasifika-ness”.
Also sharing their expertise were academics from American Samoa, New Zealand and Europe.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor of the NUS Peseta Dr Desmond Lee Hang in his summary at the end of the conference stated that the papers truly represented Samoa’s measina ( treasures).
He urged people to share the knowledge they have with the future generation. By sharing knowledge the people of Samoa will become more enlightened Peseta added.
The vast body of knowledge gathered from the 9th Measina Conference will be stored in a publication.
This was confirmed by the Vice Chancellor and President of the National University of Samoa Tuifuisa’a Professor Patila Malua Amosa.
The publication will be a valuable resource to students in their research and school work the Vice Chancellor said.