By Staff Writer
Former Director General of Health, Leausa Dr. Take Naseri, is back on course with his earlier plan to set up a medical clinic, after he opted not to re-apply for his old job.
The Naseri and Associates Family Clinic officially opened on Thursday on the ground floor of the two-storey building that once housed the Samoa Commercial Bank.
“When I returned from American Samoa where I had worked for 20 years, this was what I wanted, a medical clinic,” Leausa said at the official opening.
He was forced to have his plans set on simmer when the Ministry of Health called on his services.
The last 8 years of that service was as the Director General of the Ministry that after trial and error merged again with the independent Health Services.
“I decided to go into private practice while I still have the strength to provide the health service for the public.
Leausa is joined by Darrel Anesi as public health associate providing consultancy service for the clinic.
The invited guests at the opening and the reception that followed at Hotel Elisa included the Head of State, His Highness Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II.
The former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi now HRPP opposition leader was also present.
Both are traditional elders in the extended families Leausa serve as the holder of 5 chiefly titles.
During his tenure as head of the Ministry of Health the measles epidemic of September 2019 and the COVID 19 pandemic that follow a year after were the most notable challenges for Leausa.
Together with his medical team and advise to Government, international travel borders for Samoa were closed off at the outbreak of the pandemic to protect against the pandemic.
For the next two years since 2020 the country became only a few in the world to remain free of the feared pandemic virus taking lives around the world.
The Samoan community remained virus free until March this year 2022 when the first community case was recorded.
Leausa was already on his way out after taking annual leave to finish up his contracted term as Director General.
Close to 30 people have since died from COVID 19 related health complications mostly the elderly from 60 years upwards.