JICA volunteer, Ms. Yukiko Motoe.
Japan International Cooperation Agency welcomes back to Samoa returning volunteer, Ms. Yukiko Motoe.
Ms. Motoe repatriated to Japan with other JICA Volunteers in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work placement at the Dental Health Services division of the Ministry of Health (MoH) was therefore cut short.
Three years and two months later, she has finally returned to complete the remaining six months of her term in Samoa.
“I did not plan to start work immediately after returning to Japan in 2020 because I honestly thought that COVID-19 would be over soon.
It was after six months at home that I decided to look for work (after realizing COVID-19 would take longer than she had intended). Now that I am back in Samoa, I am so happy I returned.
The atmosphere is so different here with everyone welcoming me and smiling” Ms. Motoe commented after arriving back in the country.
She looks forward to joining her work colleagues and to reunite with other friends and Samoan family she had made since first arriving in Samoa. Dental Health Services division are delighted knowing of Ms. Motoe’s return.
Over 80 JICA volunteers out of all Japanese volunteers who served in Samoa, had placements under the Ministry of Health mainly as Laboratory Technicians, Nursing, Dentists, Dental Technicians/ Hygienists, as well as other health-related fields such as Health Nutritionists, Public Sanitary, Automobile Maintenance, Infectious Diseases, Pharmacists, Midwifery, Maternity, Ecology and Audio-Visual Technicians.
Ms. Motoe met today with Chairman Nonu Lemauga Saleimoa Vaai and Commissioner Fonoti Perelini Perelini of the Public Service Commission during her courtesy visit.
Both Commission members had attended Samoa Dental Association’s meeting and seminar held the day before and mentioned there is a real need for more dental professionals to assist Samoa with currently only 21 dentists and 2 hygienists, welcoming Ms. Motoe’s timely arrival and following up whether there are other volunteers after she completes her term.
Another request for Ms. Motoe’s replacement is already underway, effective after her term in Samoa. JICA Samoa Volunteer program established over fifty 50 years ago in 1972, with Samoa the first country to receive Japanese volunteers in the Pacific region.
JICA Samoa will continue its close relationship with Dental Health Services division of the Ministry of Health.